We consider a family of linearly elastic and elliptic membrane shells, all sharing the same middle surface, with thickness 2ε, clamped along their entire lateral face, which upon deformation may enter in frictional contact with a moving foundation along its lower face. As a result of friction, material might be removed from the interface, thus causing wear. In this paper, we focus in the numerical analysis of our model and provide a priori error estimates for displacements, stress and wear fields. We have implemented the fully discrete scheme with the FreeFEM++ programming environment, by using an intrinsic (basis free) formulation, reduction of order, penalization and Newton method. We carried on a series of numerical simulations to demonstrate the capabilities of our code, providing experimental evidence of our theoretical results regarding the convergence with respect to the thickness parameter ε and mesh size h. As a practical application, we have also included the results of a simulation of the wear that undergoes the tyre of a vehicle braking on a road.
This work presents the experimental evaluation of a Two-Phase Closed Thermosyphon (TPCT, 32 mm inner diameter and 125 mm total length) using HFE-7100 dielectric fluid, equipped with novel laser-fabricated microstructured evaporator surfaces and a see-through adiabatic section for flow visualization. A complete redesign enabled reliable testing of seven surface geometries: smooth, anodized, and microstructured with micro-holes, micro-waves, and micro-pillars with feature depths of 100 µm and 300 µm, and center-to-center distances of approximately 120 µm and 370 µm, respectively. Steady-state tests dissipating power values up to 110 W at an optimized filling ratio of 30% showed a constant condenser resistance of about 0.11 K/W for power values above 30 W, regardless of evaporator surface, and a maximum heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of 2.54 W/cm2.K at 110 W, about 3.5 × larger than the plain surface. Critical boiling conditions were not reached for any of the surfaces due to the mechanical fragility of the see-through section of the TPCT. The surface that achieved the best performance was the W100 followed closely by the H100 surface. Additionally, it was observed that condenser performance influences bubble dynamics and boiling resistance of the device. Transient 100 W step tests revealed that the abruptness of heat delivery can influence positively or negatively HTC after stationarity is reached; surface H100 showed a 40% HTC improvement in relation to the steady-state tests. These findings demonstrate that microstructures significantly enhance both steady and dynamic TPCT cooling performance, offering a plausible alternative for high heat flux thermal management of electronic components.
Freshwater fish invasions are major drivers of global ecological change, disrupting native biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, many invasive fish hold significant socioeconomic value, resulting in conflict over their management. Centrarchidae, which are globally distributed and are important for sportfishing and aquaculture, are now potentially becoming a global threat. Yet, no comprehensive appraisal exists across taxa and regions integrating taxonomy, pathways, impacts and risk analysis for Centrarchidae. To address these gaps, we compiled published literature and leveraged publicly available databases to critically evaluate the current global status of non-native Centrarchidae, finding 30 species established outside their native ranges with 17 being outside of North America. Largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) are the most widely introduced centrarchids. Reported impacts of Centrarchidae introduction are mostly ecological, with predation, competition, hybridisation, and disease transmission as major mechanisms. Conversely, socio-economic and cultural effects are underreported. Currently, only ten species have undergone rapid risk screening, with 90% flagged as high risk. However, risk analyses remain sparse, confounded by taxonomic uncertainties (including hybridisation) and context dependence of impacts. With the changing climate and other anthropogenic disturbances in freshwaters, habitat suitability is expanding for centrarchids. Although concerning, Centrarchidae form a highly human-mediated invasion complex with predictable pathways and tractable leverage points, so limiting propagule pressure and standardizing assessments can curb their future spread while informing balanced and evidence-based fisheries policy that reconciles socioeconomic benefits with environmental costs.
Spider silk is an archetypal high-performance protein fiber that combines outstanding toughness with biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the large-scale harvesting of native spidroins remains impractical. Recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSPs) offer a scalable and engineerable alternative to access spidroin-inspired building blocks with tunable sequences, modular architectures, and biofunctionality. Here, we review current rSSP production platforms. From a fiber-centric perspective, we summarize how key processing parameters—such as dope formulation, shear/elongational flow, ion–pH gradients, and post-drawing—govern self-assembly. We explain how these secondary-structure transitions ultimately dictate the hierarchical microstructure and mechanical performance of the fibers. Furthermore, we highlight recent advances in the bioinspired spinning of rSSP fibers and the expansion into fiber-derived formats (e.g., nonwovens, membranes, hydrogels, particles, and porous scaffolds) that leverage textile manufacturability and interfacial design for biomedical applications. Representative applications are systematically categorized into three parallel domains: surgical closures and wound dressings, controlled drug-delivery systems, and tissue engineering, where distinct rSSP architectures and functionalities are explicitly tailored to the regenerative demands of specific organs. Finally, we outline key challenges for translation, including high-yield production of high-molecular-weight spidroins, robust structure–property–function profiling, sterilization stability, and pathways toward scalable manufacturing. Ultimately, this review aims to bridge molecular design, fiber processing, and the biomedical implementation of rSSP-based materials. Schematic overview of spider silk types and representative spidroins, the recombinant production of recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSPs) in representative host systems, and their spinning/processing into fibers and fiber-derived material formats for emerging biomedical applications.
Cognitive health is a major concern for older adults. Cognitive decline poses risks to individual wellbeing and the public health system; therefore, identifying modifiable social risk factors is crucial. Social exclusion among older adults can occur across multiple domains simultaneously; however, few studies assess the association between multidimensional exclusion and cognitive function. This study investigates the relationship between three domains of social exclusion - economic, social relations and civic participation - and cognitive performance, examining both individual and combined effects among middle-aged and older adults in Europe. The study uses data from 60,726 participants in the ninth wave of the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. It assesses the independent and cumulative associations between social exclusion and cognitive function, while adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related variables. Cognitive function was most strongly associated with civic participation (beta = -0.40), followed by social relationships (beta = -0.36) and economic exclusion (beta = -0.32), all of which were statistically significant (p < 0.001). A cumulative effect was found; individuals excluded from all three domains had the lowest cognitive scores (beta = -1.12; p < 0.001), with cognitive performance declining progressively as the number of exclusion domains increased. These results highlight that multidimensional social exclusion is associated with worse cognitive outcomes, even after controlling for other relevant variables. Civic exclusion emerged as the domain with the most significant association, suggesting that encouraging civic participation - such as volunteering or participating in politics - may be a valuable strategy for supporting cognitive health in later life.
