Federated learning (FL) has emerged as an extremely effective strategy for dismantling data silos and has attracted significant interest from both industry and academia in recent years. However, existing iterative FL approaches often require a large number of communication rounds and struggle to perform well on unbalanced datasets. Furthermore, the increased complexity of networks makes the application of traditional differential privacy to protect client privacy expensive. In this context, the authors introduce FedGM: a method designed to reduce communication overhead and achieve outstanding results in non-IID scenarios. FedGM is capable of achieving considerable accuracy, even with a small privacy budget. Specifically, the authors devise a method to extract knowledge from each client’s data by creating a scaled-down but highly effective synthesized dataset that can perform similarly to the original data. Additionally, the authors propose an innovative approach to applying label differential privacy to protect the synthesized dataset. The authors demonstrate the superiority of the approach over traditional methods by requiring only one communication round and by testing using four classification datasets for evaluation. Furthermore, when comparing the model performance for clients using their method against traditional solutions, the authors find that the approach achieves significant accuracy and better privacy. Full article

Studies comparing treatment outcomes in patients with eating disorders before and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have yielded conflicting results. Furthermore, no study has yet evaluated treatment outcomes in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa before, during and after the crisis. Hence, this study investigated the outcomes of an intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) program on adolescents with anorexia nervosa consecutively treated before (n = 64), during (n = 37) and after (n = 31) the period of emergency spanning 8 March 2020 to 31 March 2022. Results show consistent and similar iprovements in eating disorder psychopathology, general psychopathology and body mass index-for-age percentiles across all three periods, with approximately 60% of patients maintaining a full response at the 20-week follow-up, suggesting that treatment efficacy remained robust. Overall, the study underscores the effectiveness of intensive CBT-E as a viable treatment option for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, even during and after unprecedented challenges such as those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Bone regeneration using Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) alongside various engineered scaffolds has attracted considerable attention over the years. The field has seen extensive research in preclinical animal models, leading to the approval of two products and guiding the quest for new materials. Natural and synthetic polymers, ceramics, and composites have been used to fabricate the necessary porous 3D scaffolds and delivery systems for BMPs. Interestingly, all reported applications in the literature are triumphant. Evaluation of the results is typically based on histologic assessment after appropriate staining and radiological modalities, providing morphological identification of the newly formed bone and describing cells and the organic compound. Remarkably, while these evaluation methods illustrate mineralization, they are not capable of identifying hydroxyapatite crystals, the mineral component of the bone, which are crucial for its mechanical properties, structure, integrity, and long-term stability of regenerated bone tissue. This review aims to focus on the different scaffolds used in bone tissue engineering applications and underline the pressing need for techniques that could recognize the presence of hydroxyapatite crystals as well as their characteristics in bone tissue engineering, which will provide a more complete and comprehensive assessment of the successful results. Full article

The phenomenon of prey switching is prevalent in the natural world and represents a strategic adaptation of predators to their environment. Neoseiulus bicaudus, a native predatory mite found in Xinjiang, serves as a natural enemy to numerous small pests. The utilization of Tyrophagus putrescentiae as an alternative prey for the mass breeding of N. bicaudus is employed to fulfill the demands of enhanced breeding efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Following the introduction of mass breed N. bicaudus into the agricultural ecosystem, there was a switching in the prey of N. bicaudus from Ty. putrescentiae to Tetranychus turkestani. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of prey switching at various stages on N. bicaudus. This study employed the age-stage, two-sex life table to assess the life parameters of N. bicaudus undergoing prey switching at different stages. The results showed that the survival rate of N. bicaudus was significantly decreased, the developmental period was significantly prolonged, the fecundity was improved during prey switching, and the intrinsic rate of increase of N. bicaudus was significantly decreased. The negative effects of prey switching in larva and deutonymph stages were greater than those in protonymph and adult stages. The stage and age of N. bicaudus undergoing prey switching were positively correlated with the male ratio, and negatively correlated with the total preoviposition period and the mean generation time. The comprehension of prey switching effects on N. bicaudus can enhance our understanding of the predator adaptation to environmental changes and contribute to the artificial rearing and application of natural enemy. Full article

Bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 (BoGHV4) is a member of the Gammaherspivirinae subfamily, Rhadinovirus genus. Its natural host is the bovine, and it is prevalent among the global cattle population. Although the complete genome of BoGHV4 has been successfully sequenced, the functions of most of its genes remain unknown. Currently, only six strains of BoGHV4, all belonging to Genotype 1, have been sequenced. This is the first report of the nearly complete genome of Argentinean BoGHV4 strains isolated from clinical cases of abortion, representing the first BoGHV4 Genotype 2 and 3 genomes described in the literature. Both Argentinean isolates presented the highest nt p-distance values, indicating a greater level of divergence. Overall, the considerable diversity observed in the complete genomes and open reading frames underscores the distinctiveness of both Argentinean isolates compared to the existing BoGHV4 genomes. These findings support previous studies that categorized the Argentinean BoGHV4 strains 07-435 and 10-154 as Genotypes 3 and 2, respectively. The inclusion of these sequences represents a significant expansion to the currently limited pool of BoGHV4 genomes while providing an important basis to increase the knowledge of local isolates. Full article

On 22 April 2022, a M_w 5.7 earthquake was generated near Stolac (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The mainshock was succeeded by several aftershocks, three of which were significant. Two M_b 4.3 earthquakes occurred on 23 April 2022, and a M_w 4.8 earthquake was generated on 24 April 2022. Available data from fault mechanism solutions revealed that the mainshock activated a reverse fault, while the aftershock generated a normal fault with a right-lateral component. The Balkan Peninsula stands as one of the most active geodynamic areas in Central and Eastern Europe due to its location within the collision zone between Eurasian and African tectonic plates and the Anatolian microplate. Recorded earthquakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are related to the energy generated by the subduction of the African tectonic plate under Eurasia. Furthermore, the seismicity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly its southern part, is profoundly influenced by the subduction of the Adriatic microplate under the Dinarides. The Dinarides are a mainly fold and thrust belt that extends from the Southern Alps in the northwest to the Hellenides in the southeast and make dominant the tectonic system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this study, two pairs of SAR images obtained from the Sentinel-1 satellite mission were utilized to generate satellite LOS surface displacements using the DInSAR method. Moreover, LOS displacements were decomposed into vertical and east–west horizontal components by combining ascending and descending satellite orbits. Ultimately, the InSAR results were analyzed and compared with the data obtained from the CROPOS CORS GNSS station in Metković (MET3). Full article

In Japan, many workers are exposed to chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and nutritional imbalance. They tend still to go to work when ill, leading to decreased work performance and productivity, which has become a major social problem. We conducted a human entry study with the aim of finding a link between these two factors and proposing an optimized diet, believing that a review of diet may lead to an improvement in labor productivity. In this study, we used subjective accomplishment (SA) as a measure of productivity. First, we compared nutrient intake between groups with high and low SA using data from a health survey of 1564 healthy male and female adults. Significant differences were found in the intake of 13 nutrients in males and 15 nutrients in females, including potassium, vitamin A, insoluble fiber, and biotin. Recommended daily intake of these nutrients was determined from survey data. Next, we designed test meals containing sufficient amounts of 17 nutrients and conducted a single-arm intervention study (registration code UMIN000047054) in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Healthy working adults (males and females aged 20–79 years) were recruited and supplied with test meals, which were eaten once a day 5 days a week for 8 weeks. SA was significantly higher and daytime sleepiness (DS) was significantly lower after lunch on workdays in younger participants (under 60 years) when they ate the test meals as breakfast or lunch. Our results suggest that SA and DS, which change daily, are strongly influenced by the meal eaten before work, and that taking the 17 nutrients may help prevent presenteeism and improve labor productivity. Full article

With the megatrend of digitalization, the demand for sensors in previously difficult-to-access scenarios is increasing. Filament-shaped sensors (FSS) are ideal for this demand, especially in applications in which the monitoring of textile structures is the focus. Electrically conductive bicomponent filaments based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer great potential due to their flexible mechanical properties. Through the core-conducting, bicomponent structure, the sensing material is protected from environmental factors such as surrounding conductive materials and external moisture. The insulating material, however, simultaneously complicates the contacting method in order to measure sensing changes in the conductive core. In this work, laser cutting is employed as a technology in order to expose the conductive core of the filaments. The filament is then coated with silver and mechanically crimped, providing both a conductive interface for the data acquisition device as well as a protective layer. Laser parameters (power 20–100 W and speed 5–50 mm/s) are investigated to identify the parameters with the best cutting properties for which the filaments are analyzed visually and electrically. This work provides a robust and reproducible method for contacting core-conducting TPU filaments for strain-sensing applications. This study shows that while the choice of laser parameter influences the morphology of the cut surface, its impact on the resulting linear resistivity is negligible. Full article

There has been a recent uptake in the use of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), which is an organic thermoplastic polymer, in the manufacturing of various medical devices, implants, and equipment. Finding the best time and procedure for PEEK after sulfonation is the goal of this research. A total of 30 PEEK discs were sulfonated in this study by immersing them in concentrated (H₂SO₄) sulfuric acid for various durations and subsequently treated using various post-treatment techniques. Five experiments were carried out, aimed studying the effect of immersion time (5 s–2 min). The methods used as post-treatment were hydrothermal treatment, immersion in NaOH, and washing with acetone. The sulfonation time was measured, and the post-treatment techniques, surface characterizations, were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Electron Optics Instruments, LLC., West Orange, NJ, USA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) (AFM, Vía Burton, CA, USA), and hydrophilic properties. The results were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The findings of this study demonstrate that sulfonating PEEK caused a structure with a porous network to form in every sample. As the sulfonation time increased, the porous structure became more noticeable and the concentration increased. As a consequence, the roughness of the surface increased notably, and the modified PEEK surface’s wettability improved noticeably. Hydrothermal treatment was determined to be the most successful way for eliminating the leftover sulfuric acid, and sulfonation for 2 min was determined to be ideal. By understanding the best post-treatment procedures and ideal sulfonation duration, a theoretical foundation for the production of sulfonated PEEK for orthopedic uses may be laid. Full article

It is crucial to identify drought characteristics and determine drought severity in response to climate change. Aiming at the increasingly serious drought situation in the Yellow River Basin, this study firstly selected the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and streamflow drought index (SDI) to analyze the characteristics of drought seasons, then identified the frequency, duration, and intensity of drought based on the run theory, and finally recognized the abrupt changing and driving factors of major drought events in specific years by the Mann–Kendall trend test. The conclusions showed the following: (1) The drought in the downstream of the Yellow River Basin was more severe than that in the upstream. The drought characteristics showed significant regional differentiation and deterioration. (2) The drought intensity and duration had an obvious spatial correlation. Compared with the other seasons, the drought duration and severity in spring and autumn were the most serious, and in winter, they showed an aggravating trend. (3) According to a time series analysis of drought conditions in the Yellow River Basin, the worst drought occurred in 1997–2001 with the least rainfall on record and a sudden rise in temperatures. This study could provide a scientific reference for agricultural drought disaster prevention and mitigation. Full article

Materials based on polymer hydrogels have demonstrated potential as innovative Fenton catalysts for treating water. However, developing these polymer-supported catalysts with robust stability presents a significant challenge. This paper explores the development and application of polymer-supported heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for the environmental remediation of wastewater, emphasizing the enhancement of metal incorporation into catalysts for improved efficiency. The study begins with an introduction to the heterogeneous Fenton process and its relevance to wastewater treatment. It further delves into the specifics of polymer-supported heterogeneous Fenton catalysts, focusing on iron oxide, copper complexes/nanoparticles, and ruthenium as key components. The synthesis methods employed to prepare these catalysts are discussed, highlighting the innovative approaches to achieve substantial metal incorporation. Operational parameters such as catalyst dosage, pollutant concentration, and the effect of pH on the process efficiency are thoroughly examined. The catalytic performance is evaluated, providing insights into the effectiveness of these catalysts in degrading pollutants. Recent developments in the field are reviewed, showcasing advancements in catalyst design and application. The study also addresses the stability and reusability of polymer-supported heterogeneous Fenton catalysts, critical factors for their practical application in environmental remediation. Environmental applications are explored, demonstrating the potential of these catalysts in addressing various pollutants. The Conclusions offers future perspectives, underlining the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the field, and the importance of further research to enhance the efficacy and sustainability of polymer-supported heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for wastewater treatment. Full article

Paratuberculosis, or Johne’s disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The agent was also found in wild mammals such as wild boar (Sus scrofa); however, the role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of MAP is unclear. During the research period, 941 free-ranging wild boar (S. scrofa) legally hunted in two locations in the central–eastern region of Portugal were examined. Ninety-seven wild boars exhibited one or more gross lesions and were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using acid-fast staining, mycobacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathological examination. Forty-five animals (46.4%, 95% CI: 36.5–56.3%) were identified as infected, as indicated by positive results in culture and/or PCR. The findings revealed that the most significant risk factor was being a juvenile compared to yearlings and adults (OR = 10.2, 95% CI: 2.2–48.0). Based on our results, 37.9% (n = 11) of the infected animals were considered suitable for human consumption. Our findings offer novel insights into mycobacterial infections in wild boar populations in Portugal and suggest that wild boar could be a source of human infection if zoonotic potential is considered. Full article

The use of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for wastewater treatment has emerged as a promising biotechnology. A sodium alginate nucleus (SAN) incorporated into the AGS system can enhance aerobic granulation. Two important parameters influencing AGS formation and stability are the organic loading rate (OLR) and C/N ratio. In this study, AGS containing the SAN was cultivated under different OLR and C/N ratios. Through morphological analysis, physicochemical properties, and water quality analysis, the effects of the OLR and C/N ratio on the rapid formation and performance of AGS containing the SAN were investigated. The results showed that the most suitable OLR and C/N ratio in the SAN system were 1.4–2.4 kg/(m³∙d) and 10–15, respectively. A recovery experiment of sodium alginate (SA) showed that the group that formed AGS generally had a higher recovery efficiency compared with the group that did not form granular sludge. This work explored the suitable granulation conditions of AGS containing the SAN, and the results provide a theoretical basis for future practical applications. The recycling of SA as presented in this study may broaden the application prospects of SA. Full article

Environmental pollution caused by marine engines fueled with fossil fuels is a matter of growing significance. The search for renewable and clean energy sources and improvements in the way fossil fuels are burnt aims to reduce the environmental impact of these engines. For this purpose, fatty acid methyl esters were produced from pure canola oil using KOH-assisted methanol-based transesterification with a maximum yield of 90.68 ± 1.6%. The marine engine’s model was created with CONVERGE software, followed by experimental verification. This paper examines the blended fuel characteristics of a diesel engine with biodiesel blends (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) at different loads of engines (50%, 75%, and 100%). It also explores the variation in these characteristics of B10 (10% biodiesel–diesel blends) at three different load conditions and four different EGR rates (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). The results indicate that the addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel reduces CO, HC, and soot emissions, while increasing NO_x emissions. Additionally, the EGR rate decreases NO_x emissions but results in higher levels of soot, CO, and HC emissions. Finally, response surface methodology was used to elicit the engine’s characteristics. It was determined that the optimum experimental operating conditions were 100% engine load, 6.9% biodiesel addition, and 7.7% EGR. The corresponding BTE, BSFC, NO_x, and HC emissions were 38.15%, 282.62 g/(kW-h), 274.38 ppm, and 410.37 ppm, respectively. Full article

As the management areas for NPS pollution continue to increase, it is essential to conduct a situation analysis considering the regional characteristics and the scope of pollution reduction. In this study, the focus is on differentiating regional (urban, agricultural) characteristics to enhance water quality and reduce pollution loads in the increasing management areas for NPSs. Furthermore, priority management areas are identified based on urgency and vulnerability, and management strategies are proposed. The assessment involved evaluating both streamflow and water quality (T-P) using long-term monitoring data and watershed models (SWAT and HSPF) that take into account regional characteristics. The results indicated notable regional improvements, with T-P pollution reductions ranging from 20.7% to 26.8% and T-P concentration reductions ranging from 16.4% to 24.7% compared to baseline conditions in unmanaged areas. Based on these research findings, it is anticipated that the efficient and effective management of NPS pollution can be implemented on a regional basis. Moreover, the results of this study will not only contribute to the establishment of pollution standards, but also significantly impact the evaluation and proposal of management objectives, thereby making a substantial contribution to national water quality policies. Full article

Tomato grafting is an effective practice in increasing the profitability of fresh-market tomato cultivation, especially in greenhouses, and is also considered a strategy for enhancing fruit quality. In this study, selected quanti-qualitative traits, and the of bioactive health-promoting compound and organic acid contents of cherry tomato fruits from three different scion/rootstock combinations (Sunstream/Top Bental, Sunstream/Kaiser and Sunstream/Suzuka) grown under a greenhouse hydroponic system were evaluated in three different harvests (beginning, middle and end of the whole harvesting period) and on three different bunch portions (proximal, central and distal). Although the tomato productive performance was influenced by the rootstock, with Suzuka and Kaiser grafted plants showing the highest total marketable yield (9.8 kg plant⁻¹, i.e., 20% more than Top Bental), the yield-related traits (bunch number, weight and length per plant, and fruit number per bunch) and the qualitative characteristics of the fruits (color, equatorial and polar diameters, dry matter and solid soluble contents, pH and titratable acidity) showed less variability, by displaying, along with the bioactive compound contents (total polyphenols, lycopene, β-carotene), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and organic acids contents (lactic and acetic), a significant effect of the harvesting time and bunch portion. Fruits from the beginning of the harvesting period showed better qualitative and functional properties, with the lycopene and β-carotene contents equal to 178.6 and 3 mg 100 g⁻¹ fw, and fruits from proximal and central bunch portions had lycopene and β-carotene contents equal to 203.1 and 2.9 mg 100 g⁻¹ fw. Full article

In hyperspectral image (HSI) reconstruction tasks, due to the lack of ground truth in real imaging processes, models are usually trained and validated on simulation datasets and then tested on real measurements captured by real HSI imaging systems. However, due to the gap between the simulation imaging process and the real imaging process, the best model validated on the simulation dataset may fail on real measurements. To obtain the best model for the real-world task, it is crucial to design a suitable no-reference HSI quality assessment metric to reflect the reconstruction performance of different models. In this paper, we propose a novel no-reference HSI quality assessment metric via ranking feature learning (R-NHSIQA), which calculates the Wasserstein distance between the distribution of the deep features of the reconstructed HSIs and the benchmark distribution. Additionally, by introducing the spectral self-attention mechanism, we propose a Spectral Transformer (S-Transformer) to extract the spatial-spectral representative deep features of HSIs. Furthermore, to extract quality-sensitive deep features, we use quality ranking as a pre-training task to enhance the representation capability of the S-Transformer. Finally, we introduce the Wasserstein distance to measure the distance between the distribution of the deep features and the benchmark distribution, improving the assessment capacity of our method, even with non-overlapping distributions. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed metric yields consistent results with multiple full-reference image quality assessment (FR-IQA) metrics, validating the idea that the proposed metric can serve as a substitute for FR-IQA metrics in real-world tasks. Full article

This paper considers the possibility of using monofractal and multifractal analysis of acoustic signals to detect water leaks through gate valves. Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) were used. Experimental studies were conducted on a ½-inch nominal diameter wedge valve, which was fitted to a ¾-inch nominal diameter steel pipeline. The water leak was simulated by opening the valve. The resulting leakage rates for different valve opening conditions were 5.3, 10.5, 14, 16.8, and 20 L per minute (L/min). The Hurst exponent for acoustic signals in a hermetically sealed valve is at the same level as a deterministic signal, while the width of the multifractal spectrum closely matches that of a monofractal process. When a leak occurs, turbulent flow pulsations appear, and with small leak sizes, the acoustic signals become anticorrelated with a high degree of multifractality. As the leakage increases, the Hurst exponent also increases and the width of the multifractal spectrum decreases. The main contributor to the multifractal structure of leak signals is small, noise-like fluctuations. The analysis of acoustic signals using the DFA and MF-DFA methods enables determining the extent of water leakage through a non-sealed gate valve. The results of the experimental studies are in agreement with the numerical simulations. Using the Ansys Fluent software (v. 19.2), the frequencies of flow vortices at different positions of gate valve were calculated. The k-ω SST turbulence model was employed for calculations. The calculations were conducted in a transient formulation of the problem. It was found that as the leakage decreases, the areas with a higher turbulence eddy frequency increase. An increase in the frequency of turbulent fluctuations leads to enhanced energy dissipation. Some of the energy from ordered processes is converted into the energy of disordered processes. Full article

As the capital of China and a densely populated major city, the characteristics of Beijing’s near-surface wind field change significantly with the increase in the density of underlying urban structures. The high randomness of natural wind makes it extremely difficult to develop a universally applicable wind-resistant load design code based on topographic factors and architectural features. This article takes the wind speeds recorded at 15 different height levels within the urban area by the 325 m meteorological tower in Beijing from 1991 to 2020 as the research subject. It quantifies the wind speed trends at different heights and introduces time-varying functions to establish a non-stationary wind speed model based on the optimal model. Additionally, it compares the basic wind speeds and wind pressure height variation coefficients obtained from measurements with the standards. The results show that, during the past 30 years of urbanization, the near-surface wind speed in the Beijing area has shown a decreasing trend. The model incorporating time-varying functions exhibited the best fit and demonstrated good predictive capabilities, with its calculated basic wind speeds being relatively high. The wind pressure height variation coefficient values in Beijing are between Class C and Class D terrains, being closer to Class C at lower altitudes. The conclusion reveals that urbanization has a significant impact on wind speeds, primarily concentrated at lower height levels, and that the basic wind speeds calculated based on standards underestimate the actual conditions when this impact is not considered. Although the average wind speed’s wind profile index across the entire time series is mostly greater than the fixed value of 0.3 given by Class D, this represents an overestimated wind profile index for maximum wind speeds. Full article

Aerodynamic noise emitted by small wind turbines is a concern due to their proximity to urban environments. Broadband airfoil self-noise has been found to be the major source, and several studies have discussed techniques to reduce airfoil leading-edge and trailing-edge noises. Reduction mechanisms inspired by owl wings and their airfoil sections were found to be most effective. However, their effect/s on the tip vortex noise remain underexplored. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of implementing an owl airfoil design on the tip vortex noise generated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Phase VI wind turbine to gain an understanding of the relationship, if any, between airfoil design and the tip vortex noise mechanism. Numerical prediction of aeroacoustics is employed using the Ansys Fluent Broadband Noise Sources function for airfoil self-noise radiation. Detailed comparisons and evaluations of the generated acoustic power levels (APLs) for two distinguished inlet velocities were made with no loss in torque. Although the owl airfoil design increased the maximum generated APL by the baseline model from 105 dB to 110 dB at the lower inlet velocity, it significantly reduced the surface area generating the noise, and reduced the maximum APL generated by the baseline model by 4 dB as the inlet velocity increased. The ability of the owl airfoil to mitigate the velocity effects along the span of the blade was found to be its main noise reduction mechanism. Full article

Surface wear of the tap-changer contacts of industrial transformers (due to frequent switching times) easily leads to operation failure of industrial transformers, which affects the safety and stability of the transmission network. In this paper, an intelligent voice signal monitoring system was proposed for the abnormal condition (surface wear) of tap-changer contacts. This monitoring system was composed of a voice signal acquisition system, voice analysis system and voice processing system. First, the voice signal of the tap-changer contacts was collected, and the collected voice signal was analyzed in the time domain and the frequency domain. Secondly, the characteristic curve of the voice signal was proposed, and the voice curve was compared with that of the normal operation state. In this case, the running state and surface wear abnormal situation of the tap changer could be monitored and determined, and the cause of the abnormal state could also be further analyzed. This method solved the surface wear problem of the tap changer in industrial transformers, which could be not monitored effectively in real time. This method improved the operational reliability of industrial transformers and had high economic and social benefits. Full article

This study used the roto-evaporation technique to engineer a 6 mm three-layer polyurethane vascular graft (TVG) that mimics the architecture of human coronary artery native vessels. Two segmented polyurethanes were synthesized using lysine (SPUUK) and ascorbic acid (SPUAA), and the resulting materials were used to create the intima and adventitia layers, respectively. In contrast, the media layer of the TVG was composed of a commercially available polyurethane, Pearlbond 703 EXP. For comparison purposes, single-layer vascular grafts (SVGs) from individual polyurethanes and a polyurethane blend (MVG) were made and tested similarly and evaluated according to the ISO 7198 standard. The TVG exhibited the highest circumferential tensile strength and longitudinal forces compared to single-layer vascular grafts of lower thicknesses made from the same polyurethanes. The TVG also showed higher suture and burst strength values than native vessels. The TVG withstood up to 2087 ± 139 mmHg and exhibited a compliance of 0.15 ± 0.1%/100 mmHg, while SPUUK SVGs showed a compliance of 5.21 ± 1.29%/100 mmHg, akin to coronary arteries but superior to the saphenous vein. An indirect cytocompatibility test using the MDA-MB-231 cell line showed 90 to 100% viability for all polyurethanes, surpassing the minimum 70% threshold needed for biomaterials deemed cytocompatibility. Despite the non-cytotoxic nature of the polyurethane extracts when grown directly on the surface, they displayed poor fibroblast adhesion, except for SPUUK. All vascular grafts showed hemolysis values under the permissible limit of 5% and longer coagulation times. Full article