Search Results (4,265)

The search for viable alternative resources is essential for advancing sustainable development in the construction industry. A significant global concern is the substantial generation of industrial waste, particularly coal ash byproducts such as fly ash (FA) and coal bottom ash (CBA) from thermal power plants (TPPs). India ranks as the third-largest producer of coal ash globally and the second-largest in Asia, generating approximately 105 million metric tonnes annually. While TPP-derived wastes have been extensively studied in masonry mortars, the potential of CBA as a partial or complete replacement for natural fine aggregates (NFA) in high-strength mortar (HSM) remains significantly underexplored. This study investigates the fresh, mechanical, and microstructural properties of mortar incorporating CBA as a substitute for NFA, specifically up to a 100% replacement level Flow table tests revealed improved workability with increasing CBA content, which is attributed to its porous microstructure; however, significant bleeding was observed at higher replacement levels (≥75%). The dry density consistently decreased with the addition of CBA with a reduction of up to 19.27% at full replacement. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) values declined with higher levels of CBA but improved with curing age. The mortar incorporating up to 100% CBA retains appreciable mechanical properties despite a progressive reduction in compressive strength (C_S) with increasing CBA content. The observed compressive strengths for the different mixes were as follows: control mix (CM) at 36.72 MPa, mix with 25% CBA (CBA25) at 25.56 MPa, mix with 50% CBA (CBA50) at 19.69 MPa, mix with 75% CBA (CBA75) at 16 MPa, and mix with 100% CBA (CBA100) at 9.93 MPa. All mixes exceeded the minimum strength criteria, confirming their classification as HSMs at all replacement levels. These results highlight the potential of CBA as a sustainable alternative in construction materials, supporting efforts toward resource efficiency and environmental sustainability in the industry. Full article

Background: Cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) at −80 °C using uncontrolled-rate freezing is frequently employed in resource-constrained settings, yet concerns remain regarding long-term viability and clinical efficacy. Reliable post-thaw assessment is essential to ensure graft quality and engraftment success. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated 72 cryopreserved stem cell products from 25 patients stored at −80 °C for a median of 868 days. Viability was assessed using both acridine orange (AO) staining and 7-AAD (7-aminoactinomycin D) flow cytometry at three time points: collection (T0), pre-infusion (T1), and delayed post-thaw evaluation (T2). Associations between viability loss, storage duration, and clinical engraftment outcomes were analyzed. Results: Median post-thaw viability remained high (94.8%) despite a moderate time-dependent decline (~1.02% per 100 days; R² = 0.283, p < 0.001). Mean viability loss at T2 was 9.2% (AO) and 6.6% (flow cytometry). AO demonstrated greater sensitivity to delayed degradation, with a significant difference between methods (p < 0.001). Engraftment kinetics were preserved in most patients, with neutrophil and platelet recovery primarily influenced by disease type rather than product integrity. Notably, storage duration and donor age were not significantly associated with engraftment outcomes or CD34⁺ cell dose. Conclusion: Long-term cryopreservation at −80 °C maintains HSC viability sufficient for durable engraftment, despite gradual decline. While transplant outcomes are primarily dictated by disease biology and remission status, AO staining provides enhanced sensitivity for detecting delayed cellular damage. Notably, our viability-loss model offers a practical framework for predicting product quality, potentially supporting graft selection and clinical decision-making in real-world, resource-constrained transplant settings. Full article

This study evaluates the impact of different territorial contexts on academic mobility within the framework of the Erasmus Programme, using data on Key Action 1 exchanges between 2015 and 2023. Using official EU datasets and a gravity model framework, the research investigates how economic performance, geographical distance, EU membership, AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie) regional affiliation, and state contiguity shape international academic flows. The research developed two gravity models: one aimed to measure the potential barriers to academic flows through a residuals analysis, and the second integrated territorial delineations as predictors. In both models, the core of the explanatory variable is formed by indicators describing the economic performance of states and the distance between countries. When applied, the models converge in emphasizing that the inclusion of states in different territorial configurations has a strong effect on the structuring of academic flows. This suggests that the Erasmus Programme exhibits trends of overconcentration of flows in a limited number of countries, questioning the need for a more polycentric strategy and a reshaping of the funding mechanisms. Even if the gravity models behave well, given the limited number of predictors, further studies may need to incorporate qualitative indicators for a more comprehensive evaluation of the interactions. Full article

It is well known that the operation of a Borehole Heat Exchanger (BHE) can thermally induce groundwater convection in aquifers, enhancing the thermal performance of the BHE. However, the effect on the thermal performance of BHEs installed in low-permeable rock formations remains unclear. In this study, two BHEs were installed in a silty sandstone formation, one backfilled with high-permeable materials and the other grouted with sand–bentonite slurry. A Thermal Response Test (TRT) showed that the fluid outlet temperature of the high-permeable-material backfilled BHE was about 2.5 °C lower than that of the BHE refilled with sand–bentonite slurry, implying a higher thermal efficiency. The interpreted borehole thermal parameters also show a lower borehole thermal resistance in the high-permeable-material backfilled BHE. Physical model tests reveal that groundwater convective flow was induced in the high-permeable-material backfilled BHE. A test of BHEs with different borehole diameters shows that the larger the borehole diameter, the higher the thermal efficiency is. Thus, the thermal performance enhancement was attributed to two factors. First, the induced groundwater flow accelerates heat transfer by convection. Additionally, the increment of the thermal volumetric capacity of the groundwater stored inside a high-permeable-material refilled borehole stabilized the borehole’s temperature, which is key to sustaining high thermal efficiency in a BHE. The thermal performance enhancement demonstrated here shows potential for reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy resources in challenging geological settings, thereby contributing to developing more sustainable geothermal energy solutions. Further validation in diverse field conditions is recommended to generalize these findings. Full article

Somatic cell preservation is an effective strategy for conserving the genetic potential of endangered species. To contribute to the conservation of the Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus), this study aimed to establish and characterize an immortalized skin fibroblast cell line (ML-iSFC). The cell line is based on fibroblasts from the skin tissue of a male fawn of Milu deer. Optimal culture conditions were determined by supplementing the culture medium with different growth factors, and immortalization was achieved through simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40T) transduction. Optimal culturing conditions for the cells were determined by adding a range of growth factors. The cellular morphology, growth characteristics, and marker expression of the cells were further evaluated. Cell cycle and proliferation were assessed by flow cytometry and CCK-8 assays, respectively. Chromosomes were determined by karyotype analysis. The highest cell growth rate was observed when the culture medium was supplemented with 3 ng/mL of FGF2. The fibroblast-specific marker vimentin (VIM) was expressed in both ML-SFC and ML-iSFC, while the epithelial marker keratin 18 (KRT18) was weakly expressed in ML-SFC cells. Cell proliferation and cell-cycle analysis revealed that ML-iSFC exhibited a higher growth rate and greater vitality compared to ML-SFC. Karyotype analysis showed that ML-iSFC maintained the same chromosome number and morphology as ML-SFC. In summary, this study reports the successful construction of an immortalized fibroblast cell line from Milu deer, which will serve as a valuable tool for Milu deer conservation. Full article

Background: Hip fractures are common in the elderly and often require ICU admission post-surgery due to high ASA scores and comorbidities. Length of hospital stay after ICU is a crucial indicator affecting patient recovery, complication rates, and healthcare costs. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based model to predict the factors associated with extended hospital stay (>7 days from surgery to discharge) in hip fracture patients requiring postoperative ICU care. The findings could help clinicians optimize ICU bed utilization and improve patient management strategies. Methods: In this retrospective single-centre cohort study conducted in a tertiary ICU in Turkey (2017–2024), 366 ICU-admitted hip fracture patients were analysed. Conventional statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 29, including Mann–Whitney U and chi-squared tests. To identify independent predictors associated with extended hospital stay, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was applied for variable selection, followed by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. In addition, machine learning models (binary logistic regression, random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and decision tree (DT)) were trained to predict the likelihood of extended hospital stay, defined as the total number of days from the date of surgery until hospital discharge, including both ICU and subsequent ward stay. Model performance was evaluated using AUROC, F1 score, accuracy, precision, recall, and Brier score. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values were used to interpret feature contributions in the XGBoost model. Results: The XGBoost model showed the best performance, except for precision. The XGBoost model gave an AUROC of 0.80, precision of 0.67, recall of 0.92, F1 score of 0.78, accuracy of 0.71 and Brier score of 0.18. According to SHAP analysis, time from fracture to surgery, hypoalbuminaemia and ASA score were the variables that most affected the length of stay of hospitalisation. Conclusions: The developed machine learning model successfully classified hip fracture patients into short and extended hospital stay groups following postoperative intensive care. This classification model has the potential to aid in patient flow management, resource allocation, and clinical decision support. External validation will further strengthen its applicability across different settings. Full article

The use of additive manufacturing (AM) has seen increased utilization over the last decade, thanks to well-documented advantages such as lower startup costs, reduced wastage, and the ability to rapidly prototype. The poor surface finish of unprocessed AM components is one of the major drawbacks of this technology, with the research literature suggesting a measurable impact on flow characteristics and burner operability. For instance, surface roughness has been shown to potentially increase resistance to boundary layer flashback—an area of high concern, particularly when utilizing fuels with high hydrogen content. A more detailed understanding of the underlying thermophysical mechanisms is, therefore, required. Computational fluid dynamics can help elucidate the impact of these roughness effects by enabling detailed data interrogation in locations not easily accessible experimentally. In this study, roughness effects on a generic gas turbine swirler were numerically modeled using a low-y+ detached eddy simulation (DES) approach. Three DES models were investigated utilizing a smooth reference case and two rough cases, the latter employing a literature-based and novel equivalent sand-grain roughness (k_s) correlation developed for this work. Existing experimental isothermal and CH₄ data were used to validate the numerical simulations. Detailed investigations into the effects of roughness on flow characteristics, such as swirl number and recirculation zone position, were subsequently performed. The results show that literature-based k_s correlations are unsuitable for the current application. The novel correlation yields more promising outcomes, though its effectiveness depends on the chosen turbulence model. Moreover, it was demonstrated that, for identical k_s values, while trends remained consistent, the extent to which they manifested differed under reacting and isothermal conditions. Full article

Background: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution imaging technique capable of quantifying Blood Flow at Depth (BD) and the Attenuation Coefficient (AC). However, the clinical relevance of these parameters in burn assessment remains unclear. This study investigated whether OCT-derived metrics can differentiate between superficial and deep pediatric hand burns. Method: This prospective, single-center study analyzed 73 OCT scans from 37 children with thermal hand injuries. A structured algorithm was used to evaluate AC and BD. Results: The mean AC was 1.61 mm⁻¹ (SD ± 0.48), with significantly higher values in deep burns (2.11 mm⁻¹ ± 0.53) compared to superficial burns (1.49 mm⁻¹ ± 0.38; p < 0.001), reflecting increased optical density in more severe burns. BD did not differ significantly between burn depths, although superficial burns more often showed visible capillary networks. Conclusions: This is the first study to assess both AC and BD using OCT in pediatric hand burns. AC demonstrated potential as a diagnostic marker for burn depth, whereas BD had limited utility. Image quality limitations highlight the need for technical improvements to enhance OCT’s clinical application. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adnexal masses are commonly encountered in the routine practice of gynecologists, and transvaginal ultrasonography is the preferred imaging modality for assessing the masses in size and complexity. There has been a notable lack of focus on comparative studies concerning benign adnexal tumors. This study aimed to define and compare the specific morphological and vascular characteristics of ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) and endometriomas using transvaginal ultrasound and Doppler analysis. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 93 patients who underwent surgical intervention for benign adnexal masses at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic Narodni Front from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2022. Morphological parameters included the appearance of tumors, the largest diameter, volume, capsule thickness, and the presence of fluid in the pouch of Douglas. Hemodynamic parameters included the localization and quantity of blood vessels within the mass, Resistance Index (RI), peak systolic velocity (Vmax), and end-diastolic velocity (Vmin) within detectable tumor vessels. Flow was also assessed in the uterine arteries, calculating the AURI (uterine artery RI) on both the tumor and contralateral sides. Results: There were 46 patients with ovarian mature cystic teratomas, as well as 46 patients with endometriomas; 1 patient presented with both tumors. There were significant differences in ultrasonographic morphological appearance between the two groups. MCTs most frequently presented as multilocular solid cysts (51.0%) or unilocular solid cysts with hyperechoic content (20.4%). Conversely, the majority of endometriomas were classified as unilocular cysts with ground-glass echogenicity (45.5%). A significant difference was identified in the RI of intracystic vessels and the RI of the ipsilateral uterine artery (AURI). Endometriomas presented elevated RI values (0.57 vs. 0.54, p = 0.04) and reduced AURI (0.81 vs. 0.83, p = 0.02) compared to teratomas. Conclusions: These findings confirm that specific morphological and Doppler parameters, particularly the RI and AURI, can assist in distinguishing between endometriomas and mature cystic teratomas. This suggests a potential role for Doppler analysis in improving diagnostic precision for common benign adnexal tumors in clinical practice. Full article

Peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), a natural biopolymer extracted from the resin of the peach tree, holds significant potential for applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. However, detailed analysis and exploration of its physical and chemical properties remain limited. This study investigates the physicochemical properties, rheological behavior and emulsion stability of PGPs extracted using thermal (TPGP) and enzymatic (EPGP) methods. The results indicate that both polysaccharide fractions exhibit similar arabinogalactan (AG) structures, with high contents of arabinose and xylose, as evidenced by FTIR spectra and monosaccharide composition. However, high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) revealed differences in molecular weights and chain conformations, leading to distinct rheological behaviors. PGP solutions exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior, with TPGP demonstrating higher viscosity due to its larger molecular weight (1.295 × 10⁷ g mol⁻¹). As the PGP concentration increased, gel strength and emulsion stability improved significantly. This study provides more insight into the rheological and emulsifying characteristics of PGPs extracted by varied methods, facilitating their potential applications in food industries. Full article

Improving the water productivity and sustainability of global food supplies and reducing water stress worldwide requires a comprehensive and consistent assessment of water use in global food production systems, including livestock production and supply chains. Presented here is a systematic review of relevant livestock water use studies, published over two periods: “Period 1993–2017” and “Period 2018–2024”, assessing consistency in their approaches and identifying opportunities for advancing and harmonizing the assessment of livestock water use worldwide. However, the review highlights that a comprehensive and consistent assessment of livestock water use remains a challenge. The reviewed studies (a total of 317) differ in terms of their accounting of different water flows, setting the system boundaries, and quantification of water productivity and impact metrics. This makes it difficult to compare potential water productivity and environmental impacts of livestock production systems at different scales and locations. Case studies are required to further develop and implement a robust and consistent methodological approach, based on locally calibrated models and databases, of different livestock production systems in different agroclimatic conditions. Also, further communication and training are required to help build the capability to apply a comprehensive and consistent assessment of livestock water use locally and globally. The adoption of a scientifically robust and practically applicable methodological framework will support researchers, policy managers, farmers, and business leaders in sound decision-making to improve the productivity and sustainability of water use in livestock production systems locally and globally. Full article

The microparticle-enhanced microfiltration is a technique that combines the use of microparticulate adsorbent material dispersed in aqueous solution and microfiltration membranes for the removal of ions and emerging contaminants with low energy consumption. Thus, the objective of this work was to synthesize an organoclay, BAPTES, based on bentonite and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane for use as a semi-synthetic adsorbent material in the microparticle-enhanced microfiltration process for the removal of AR27 in aqueous systems. For this purpose, the obtained organoclay was structurally characterized by FTIR-ATR-FEDS, SEM-EDS, DLS, and thermal analysis. In addition, equilibrium adsorption and kinetic studies of AR27 were performed. The results showed a significant increase in the adsorption capacity of AR27 by organoclay (86.06%) compared to natural bentonite (2.10%), due to the presence of ionizable amino groups in the organoclay structure that promote electrostatic interactions with the dye. Furthermore, kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process follows a pseudo-first-order model and that the equilibrium data better fits the Temkin model, indicating a heterogeneous adsorption surface with different binding energies. The evaluation of enhanced microfiltration with BAPTES microparticles showed that the adsorption capacity obtained in continuous flow experiments (14.25–33.63 mg g⁻¹) was lower than that determined experimentally under equilibrium conditions (~39.5 mg g⁻¹), suggesting that the residence time of the analyte and the adsorbent in the filtration cell is a determining factor in the retention values obtained. In addition, desorption studies revealed that basic pH had a greater effect than the presence of salts and the use of ethanol, favoring the weakening of the AR27-BAPTES interaction. Finally, the results highlight the potential use of BAPTES microparticle-enhanced microfiltration in applications involving the treatment of contaminated industrial effluents. Full article

In the pursuit of sustainable development, optimizing water resources management while maintaining ecological balance is crucial. This study introduces a Chaos-enhanced Harris Hawks Optimizer (CEHHO) aimed at optimizing natural flow patterns in cascade reservoirs. First, an ecological scheduling model considering ensuring guaranteed output is established based on the similarity of ecological flows. Subsequently, the CEHHO algorithm is proposed, which uses tilted skew chaos mapping for population initialization, improving the quality of the initial population. In the exploration phase, an adaptive strategy enhances the efficiency of group search algorithms, enabling effective navigation of the complex solution space. A random difference mutation strategy, combined with the Q-learning algorithm, mitigates premature convergence and maintains algorithmic diversity. Comparative analysis with the existing technology under different typical hydrological frequency shows that the search accuracy and convergence efficiency of the proposed method are significantly improved. Under the guaranteed output limit of 1000 MW, the proposed method enhances the optimal, median, mean, and worst values by 293.92, 493.23, 422.14, and 381.15, respectively, compared to the HHO. Furthermore, the results of the multi-purpose guaranteed output scenario highlight the superior detection and exploitation capabilities of this algorithm. These findings highlight the great potential of the proposed method for practical engineering applications, providing a reliable tool for optimizing water resources management while maintaining ecological balance. Full article

Background/Objectives: In a previous study, we observed significantly prolonged hepatic and pulmonary first-pass transit times (TTs) for ^99mTc-pertechnetate absorbed through the colorectal mucosa during per-rectal portal scintigraphy (PRPS). This decrease in radiotracer flow velocity was not seen when ^99mTc-pertechnetate was administered into the spleen during trans-splenic portal scintigraphy or injected intravenously in radionuclide angiocardiography. We hypothesized that ^99mTc-pertechnetate, an artificial compound, is recognized during colorectal absorption as a potentially hazardous chemical (PHC), with its hepatic and pulmonary slowdown aiding elimination. A similar sudden decrease in portal flow occurs during early metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), as shown by a pathological rise in the hepatic perfusion index. We aimed to study the hepatic and pulmonary vasoactive responses triggered by PHCs after they pass through the gut mucosa and evaluate the potential activation of this mechanism in early CRC metastasis. Methods: We measured transit times to determine whether hepatic and pulmonary vasoconstriction occur in response to radiotracers administered at different sites. We performed PRPS with in vivo ^99mTc-labelled RBC to evaluate the liver transit time (LTT) and right heart to liver circulation time (RHLT). Liver angioscintigraphy (LAS) was used to assess RHLT following the intravenous injection of ^99mTc-pertechnetate and ^99mTc-HDP (hydroxyethylene-diphosphate). Lower rectum transmucosal dynamic scintigraphy (LR-TMDS) was conducted to measure RHLT of ^99mTc-pertechnetate delivered into the lower rectum submucosa. LAS was performed to assess LTT for ^99mTc-HDP intravenously injected and delivered to the gut mucosa via arterial flow. Results: In healthy volunteers, PRPS showed notably increased LTT, ranging from 23.5 to 25.5 s, and RHLT (between 39.5 and 42.5 s) for in vivo ^99mTc-labelled RBC. Significantly lower RHLT values ranging from 9 to 13.5 were observed for ^99mTc-pertechnetate and ^99mTc-HDP administered intravenously during LAS, as well as for ^99mTc-pertechnetate at LR–TMDS (between 12 and 15 s). The LTT assessed at LAS for ^99mTc-HDP ranged from 22 to 27 s. Conclusions: An intense vasoconstriction occurs in the liver and lungs in response to substances recognized by the body as PHCs when they pass through the gut mucosa, aiding their elimination. Full article

During pregnancy, the maternal hemostatic system undergoes significant changes to support placental angiogenesis, maintain fetal blood flow, and ensure safe delivery. This study investigates the dysregulation of hemostasis in placental insufficiency and explores potential markers for diagnosing and managing this gestational complication. Thromboelastography, coagulation and fibrinolysis functional assays, ELISA, and immunoblotting were employed to assess hemostasis dysregulation in placental dysfunction of two cohorts of pregnant women with placental dysfunction and healthy controls. Thromboelastographic analysis revealed no significant differences in clot lysis indices between the control and placental dysfunction groups, with values remaining within normal ranges, suggesting this method’s limitations for assessing fibrinolysis in pregnancy. The placental dysfunction group demonstrated moderately increased fibrinogen levels and platelet sensitivity to ADP, indicating hemostasis reactiveness. Significantly lower D-dimer levels, decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (total PAI-1 + PAI-2), and increased plasminogen activator activity, driven primarily by uPA in the placental dysfunction group, indicated abnormal fibrinolysis. Immunoblotting confirmed elevated uPA/uPA-PAI complexes and reduced tPA/tPA-PAI complexes, indicating that shutdown of tPA-mediated fibrinolysis and induction of uPA-driven vessel-wall-associated proteolysis are linked to placental dysfunction. Placental dysfunction involves fibrinolytic system dysregulation, marked by decreased PAI and tPA, uPA overproduction, and hypofibrinolysis, contributing to thrombotic risks, impaired placental flow, and complications like fetal growth retardation. PAI/PA ratio and D-dimer levels have diagnostic potential for placental-dysfunction-associated complications. Full article