This study presents a comprehensive literature review on spherical fuzzy sets and their generalizations, with a particular focus on their theoretical foundations and practical applications in decision-making problems. First, the theoretical concepts of spherical fuzzy sets are examined, followed by a systematic discussion of their main extensions proposed in the literature. Subsequently, aggregation operators commonly used in spherical fuzzy set environments are reviewed in detail. In addition, the study provides an overview of decision-making methodologies and weighting techniques frequently integrated with spherical fuzzy frameworks, including objective, subjective, and hybrid weighting approaches. Beyond the theoretical perspective, a large-scale bibliometric and methodological content analysis is conducted based on 225 articles indexed in the Web of Science database. These studies are analyzed with respect to publication trends, methodological preferences, aggregation operators, weighting methods, application areas, and citation performance. The results reveal dominant research patterns, frequently adopted methodological combinations, and emerging application areas, while also identifying gaps and underexplored directions for future research. By systematically synthesizing both theoretical developments and empirical trends, this review aims to serve as a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners working on spherical fuzzy sets and multi-criteria decision-making problems.
Chronic wounds remain as a major clinical and economic challenge, requiring advanced materials that can both support tissue regeneration and effectively prevent infection. Alginate-based dressings are widely used due to their excellent biocompatibility, high absorbency, and gel-forming ability, which help maintain a moist environment favorable for healing. However, these systems inherently lack strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In this context, the incorporation of lignin, a naturally abundant and phenolic-rich biopolymer, offers a promising strategy to overcome these limitations by introducing intrinsic radical scavenging activity, enhanced antibacterial performance, and improved mechanical strength. In this review, we provide a focused and comprehensive overview of lignin-alginate hydrogels as multifunctional wound dressing materials. Unlike previous reviews that discuss lignin- or alginate-based systems individually, this work specifically emphasizes their synergistic integration and the resulting enhancements in hydrogel performance. We first outline the fundamental properties of hydrogels that make them suitable for wound healing applications, followed by detailed discussions on the individual characteristics of alginate and lignin. Furthermore, recent advances in formulation strategies, crosslinking approaches, and multifunctional design are critically discussed, with a focus on improving mechanical stability, exudate management, and controlled therapeutic release. Finally, key challenges related to reproducibility, large-scale production, and clinical translation are highlighted, along with future perspectives emphasizing sustainability and personalized wound care. According to these data, lignin-alginate hydrogels could be considered as a promising next-generation platform for developing sustainable, effective, and multifunctional wound dressing systems.
Two red-emitting double perovskite phosphors, Sr2Gd0.9TaO6:0.10Eu3+ and Sr2Gd0.9TaO6:0.10Eu3+, 0.50B3+, were synthesized by a conventional solid-state method and investigated with a focus on their structural characteristics, thermal stability, and latent fingerprint (LFP) visualization performance. X-ray diffraction confirmed that both compositions crystallize in a single-phase monoclinic P21/n structure without detectable impurities, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that B3+ codoping promotes grain growth and microstructural densification through a flux-assisted sintering mechanism, and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) observations further confirmed nanocrystallite sizes in the range of 30–45 nm. The photoluminescence behavior and Judd–Ofelt (JO) spectroscopic parameters of this system have been previously reported, demonstrating that B3+ codoping increases the local asymmetry around Eu3+ ions and enhances radiative transition probabilities. The experimentally measured internal quantum efficiency (IQE), consistent with the increasing trend observed in the previously reported JO analysis, is 36.8
Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) were developed to protect SiC/SiC CMCs used in the hot sections of new-generation gas turbine engines from corrosion. Plasma-sprayed YbSi is deposited as an EBC top layer, mostly in the amorphous phase. Plasma spraying inherently creates cracks and porosity on the surface. These are disadvantages of coatings in hot corrosion and CMAS corrosion. To address these disadvantages, the presented study explored laser glazing as a solution. The surfaces of plasma-sprayed EBCs were modified with various laser processing parameters. The entire surface of the EBC was glazed using the determined optimum parameter. Hot corrosion and CMAS corrosion tests were conducted on laser-glazed EBCs. Laser glazing transformed the amorphous phase structure of the YbSi into a crystalline. It also created a smooth and dense layer on the surface. Characterizations after hot corrosion tests showed that the laser-modified sample did not show enhanced resistance. Structural deterioration, specifically an induced crack network and pits, facilitated increased penetration of corrosive salts. This led to a degradation of performance compared to the as-sprayed coating, which maintained partial resistance. Conversely, laser modification proved highly beneficial for CMAS corrosion of EBCs. The fully scanned surface’s crystallized structure effectively restricted the penetration of the corrosive glass phases. This structural integrity and the maintenance of the Yb2Si2O7 phase stability resulted in a 50
Solar still (SS) technology offers a sustainable solution for freshwater production, especially in arid regions such as southern Tunisia with high solar irradiance. In the present paper, different SS designs were experimentally investigated to enhance their performance compared with a conventional solar still (CSS). The novelty of this work lies in the combined integration of a stepped basin design, an external reflector, and a fan-assisted airflow system to intensify evaporation and condensation processes under real arid climatic conditions. Five configurations with identical geometric dimensions were evaluated. The first one is a conventional solar still, while the others are modified configurations: a basic stepped solar still (BSSS), a fan-assisted solar still (FSSS), a reflector-assisted solar still (RSSS), and a hybrid configuration integrating both a fan and reflector (FRSSS). Experiments were conducted over four consecutive summer days under the arid climatic conditions of Gafsa City, southern Tunisia. Various performance parameters were evaluated including glass temperature, basin water temperature, solar irradiance, and cumulative freshwater yield. An improvement in productivity of 52
