Search Results (41,377)

Developing sustainable and high-performance sorbents for efficient CO₂ capture is essential for mitigating climate change and reducing industrial emissions. In this study, phosphorus-doped porous carbons (LPSP-T) were synthesized via a one-step activation–doping strategy using lotus petiole biomass as a precursor and sodium phytate as a dual-function activating and phosphorus-doping agent. The simultaneous activation and phosphorus incorporation at various temperatures (650–850 °C) under a nitrogen atmosphere produced carbons with tailored textural properties and surface functionalities. Among them, LPSP-700 exhibited the highest specific surface area (525 m²/g) and a hierarchical porous structure, with abundant narrow micropores (<1 nm) and phosphorus-containing surface groups that synergistically enhanced CO₂ capture performance. The introduction of P functionalities not only improved the surface polarity and binding affinity toward CO₂ but also promoted the formation of a well-connected pore network. As a result, LPSP-700 delivered a CO₂ uptake of 2.51 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1 bar (3.34 mmol/g at 0 °C), along with a high CO₂/N₂ selectivity, fast CO₂ adsorption kinetics and moderate isosteric heat of adsorption (Q_st). Furthermore, the dynamic CO₂ adsorption capacity (0.81 mmol/g) was validated by breakthrough experiments, and cyclic adsorption–desorption tests revealed excellent stability with negligible loss in performance over five cycles. Correlation analysis revealed pores < 2.02 nm as the dominant contributors to CO₂ uptake. Overall, this work highlights sodium phytate as an effective dual-role agent for simultaneous activation and phosphorus doping and validates LPSP-700 as a sustainable and high-performance sorbent for CO₂ capture under post-combustion conditions. Full article

To address environmental pollution issues and optimize the utilization of waste biomass resources, this study proposes a novel eco-friendly sound-absorbing material based on maple leaf waste and tests its sound absorption performance. The fibers were extracted from maple leaf waste through a wet decomposition and grinding process. Metallurgical microscopy was employed to observe the microstructural characteristics of maple leaf fibers to identify the potential synergistic effect. The effects of two key factors—sample thickness and mass density—on sound absorption performance were investigated. The sound absorption coefficients were measured using the transfer function method in a dual-microphone impedance tube to evaluate their sound-absorbing performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the prepared maple leaf fibers, as acoustic materials, exhibit excellent acoustic performance across a wide frequency range, with an average sound absorption coefficient of 0.7. Increasing sample thickness improves the sound absorption coefficient in low- and mid-frequency ranges. Additionally, increased sample mass density was found to enhance acoustic performance in low- and mid-frequency bands. This study developed an eco-friendly material with lightweight and efficient acoustic absorption properties using completely biodegradable maple leaf waste. The results provide high-performance, economical, and ecologically sustainable solutions for controlling building and traffic noise while promoting the development of eco-friendly acoustic materials. Full article

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Ocular manifestations are common but often overlooked, despite their potential to cause long-term visual impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of ocular findings in pediatric TBI patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Method: We prospectively reviewed records of pediatric patients (≤16 years) with TBI admitted to the Neurosurgery ICU at King Abdullah University Hospital (January 2022–December 2024). TBI was defined using U.S. CDC criteria and confirmed by clinical and radiological findings. Ocular manifestations were identified from ophthalmology consultations, neurosurgical notes, and bedside examinations. Demographics, injury details, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Mann–Whitney U tests, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Thirty-eight patients (median age: 8 years; 55.3% male) were included. Ocular findings were present in 20 patients (52.6%). These patients were significantly older (median age 10 vs. 6 years, p = 0.007) and had lower admission GCS scores (11 vs. 14, p = 0.016). Male predominance was higher in the ocular group (75.0% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.030). Ocular findings were significantly associated with surgical intervention (60.0% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.025), orbital fractures (40.0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.021), basal skull fracture signs (p = 0.036), and extraocular muscle limitation (p = 0.048). On multivariable analysis, orbital fracture remained the only independent predictor of ocular findings (aOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.17–3.57, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Over half of pediatric ICU TBI patients demonstrated ocular manifestations, closely linked to greater injury severity and craniofacial trauma. Routine, comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation should be integrated into the multidisciplinary management of severe pediatric TBI to optimize visual and functional outcomes. Full article

Autonomous social robots aim to reduce human supervision by performing various tasks. To achieve this, they are equipped with multiple perceptual channels to interpret and respond to environmental cues in real time. However, multimodal perception often leads to sensory overload, as robots may receive numerous simultaneous stimuli with varying durations or persistent activations across different sensory modalities. Sensor overstimulation and false positives can compromise a robot’s ability to prioritise relevant inputs, sometimes resulting in repeated or inaccurate behavioural responses that reduce the quality and coherence of the interaction. This paper presents a Bioinspired Attentional System that uses Reinforcement Learning to manage stimulus prioritisation in real time. The system draws inspiration from the following two neurocognitive mechanisms: Inhibition of Return, which progressively reduces the importance of previously attended stimuli that remain active over time, and Attentional Fatigue, which penalises stimuli of the same perception modality when they appear repeatedly or simultaneously. These mechanisms define the algorithm’s reward function to dynamically adjust the weights assigned to each stimulus, enabling the system to select the most relevant one at each moment. The system has been integrated into a social robot and tested in three representative case studies that show how it modulates sensory signals, reduces the impact of redundant inputs, and improves stimulus selection in overstimulating scenarios. Additionally, we compare the proposed method with a baseline where the robot executes expressions as soon as it receives them using a queue. The results show the system’s significant improvement in expression management, reducing the number of expressions in the queue and the delay in performing them. Full article

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve lung cancer prognosis but are associated with immune-related adverse events, most commonly thyroid dysfunction. While prior studies and guidelines have focused on thyroid dysfunction during ICI therapy, data on hypothyroidism and its monitoring after ICI therapy remain limited. We aimed to investigate hypothyroidism incidence and implementation of thyroid function monitoring after ICI therapy completion in patients with lung cancer. We conducted a retrospective observational study using the DeSC claims database of approximately 12 million individuals in Japan. Patients with lung cancer who received ICI therapy between April 2014 and August 2023 were included; those with a history of thyroid hormone replacement or insufficient follow-up were excluded. Among 6883 eligible patients, 277 (4.0%) developed hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement post-ICI therapy completion (median onset, 67.0 d). Risk factors included ICI plus bevacizumab therapy and a history of myasthenia gravis, while steroid use for ≥28 d during ICI therapy lowered the risk. Post-ICI therapy completion thyroid monitoring was performed in 73.7% of patients, with test date distribution showing a median of 126.0 d and mode of 21.0 d. Hypothyroidism was frequently found to develop within 2 months post-ICI therapy completion, highlighting the need for continued thyroid monitoring and prospective studies to establish optimal surveillance strategies. Full article

Access to clean water remains a global challenge, particularly in areas where populations rely on surface water. These water sources must be treated. Coagulation with chemicals causes environmental problems and adverse effects on human health. Natural coagulants obtained from papaya (Carica papaya) waste are presented as an alternative that is safe for human health, non-polluting, and biodegradable. The effectiveness of these natural coagulants is compared to that of aluminum sulfate using jar tests and synthetic and natural surface water, with statistical tools to model treatment processes. All coagulants have competitive results, reaching turbidity remotion levels above 90%. However, in equivalent tested ranges, natural coagulants require lower dosages and perform better with high initial water turbidity due to their polymeric bridging mechanisms and adsorption processes through the action of their functional groups, as detected by FTIR analysis. Additional testing with contaminated water from the Valsequillo dam confirms the use of these coagulants to treat water, with papaya seed coagulant yielding the best results and requiring lower doses, making it a competitive alternative. It can be concluded that papaya-based coagulants obtained from waste can be used as an eco-friendly alternative to aluminum sulfate in physicochemical treatments to purify surface water for human consumption. Full article

Background: Up to 40% of people with hypertension (HTN) develop mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease during their lifetime. This study aimed to compare physical and cognitive performance in older adults, classified as non-HTN or with HTN, under single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions. Methods: In total, 46 individuals (71 ± 5.96 years), divided equally into non-HTN and HTN groups, participated. Normality of the data was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. In this cross-sectional study, groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test applied to non-parametric variables and the independent samples t-test applied to parametric ones. Physical and cognitive functions were evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), HandGrip Strength (HGS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the L-Test, both in ST and DT conditions (with arithmetic tasks). Results: Significant differences were observed between groups in MoCA and the physical performance of SPPB, TUG, and L-Test under ST. In the DT condition, differences were found in the physical performance of TUG, L-test, and SPPB total score as well as in different components such as the 3 m walk and the Sit to Stand (STS). Regarding physical–cognitive interference, there was a statistically significant difference in the SPPB dual task cost between the HTN and non-HTN groups. Conclusions: Individuals with HTN exhibit impairments compared to non-HTN individuals in physical performance under DT conditions as well as in physical–cognitive interference. Static balance and HGS appear unaffected; however, differences are evident in gait (TUG and L-Test) and lower-limb strength (STS). Full article

Quality-of-life (QoL) needs among gynecologic cancer survivors are multifaceted and culturally mediated, yet limited research has examined how survivors in the Middle East prioritize key domains such as sexual function, emotional well-being, and relational quality. This study aimed to identify subgroups of survivors based on the perceived importance of these domains and to explore demographic and clinical predictors of subgroups within the Saudi Arabian context. We conducted a cross-sectional, survey-based study among 129 women with a history of breast or cervical cancer attending a tertiary oncology center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants rated the importance of sexual, emotional, and relational QoL domains using a 4-point Likert scale. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to segment survivors based on their perceived domain importance. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics across classes were assessed using chi-square tests. A decision tree classifier was employed. Three latent classes emerged: Class 0 (48.8%) prioritized all domains highly; Class 1 (17.8%) reported low importance across domains; and Class 2 (33.3%) emphasized emotional and relational domains while downplaying sexual function. Class group was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), education (p = 0.04), nationality (p = 0.03), and number of children (p < 0.001). Decision tree analysis identified number of children, age, and marital status as the strongest predictors of high-importance class group. Gynecologic cancer survivors in Saudi Arabia hold diverse priorities regarding QoL domains, primarily shaped by sociocultural context than clinical variables. Tailored survivorship interventions that reflect survivors’ lived values, particularly in relation to age, family structure, and cultural norms, are critical for person-centered oncology care in the region. Full article

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern. Creatinine (Cr) has been well studied as a marker of renal function, specifically the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in TBI patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Cr on various clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI. Methods: We investigated the relationship between Cr levels at various time points and a range of clinical variables, using parametric and non-parametric statistical testing. Results: 1000 patients were included in our study. We found a significant association between sex and Cr level at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and ICU discharge. Cr was positively correlated with ISS at hospital admission, ICU admission, ICU discharge, and at death. Conversely, Cr was negatively correlated with GCS at hospital admission, ICU admission, ICU discharge, and at death. Larger decreases in Cr from Hospital to ICU admission were significantly correlated with increased vent days. Larger decreases in Cr from ICU admission to ICU discharge were significantly correlated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and vent days, likely reflecting the degree of initial hypercreatinemia. For all patients, there were significant positive correlations between Cr at admission and ICU LOS, Cr at ICU admission and ICU LOS, and Cr at ICU admission and vent days. Conclusions: Our findings support existing literature that demonstrates a positive relationship between Cr levels, ICU LOS, and vent days amongst patients with severe TBI. These data suggest renal injury is predictive of TBI outcomes. Future research should investigate the role of renal therapeutic interventions in TBI recovery. Full article

In this paper, we propose a formulation of the permutation flow and job shop scheduling problems using special recursive functions and show its equivalence to the existing classical formulation. Equivalence is understood in the sense that both ways of defining the problem describe the same set of feasible schedules for each pair of jobs and machine numbers. In this paper, the apparatus of recursive functions is used to describe and solve three problems: permutation flow shop; permutation flow shop with the addition of the ’and’ predicate extending the machine chain to an acyclic graph; and permutation job shop. The predicate ’and’ allows the description of the flow shop with assembly operation tasks. Recursive functions have a common domain and range. To calculate an optimal schedule for each of these three problems, a branch and bound method is considered based on a recursive function that implements a job swapping algorithm. The complexity of the optimization algorithm does not increase compared to the non-recursive description of the PFSP. This article presents some results for the calculation of optimal schedules on several test instances. It is expected that the new method, based on the description of recursive functions and their superposition, will be productive for formulating and solving some extensions of scheduling problems that have practical significance. Full article

Effective protein immobilization is a critical step in biosensor development, as it ensures the stability, functionality, and orientation of biomolecules on the sensor surface. Here, we present a novel affinity-based terpolymer coating designed to enhance protein immobilization for biosensor applications. The novelty lies in the incorporation of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) ligands directly into the polymeric chains, facilitating histidine-tagged protein oriented binding through a robust metal-chelating interaction. To validate the system, magnetic microbeads coated with the polymer were tested for their ability to bind native and His-tagged proteins. The results demonstrated the superior binding capacity, enhanced stability, and reversibility of the interactions compared to traditional coatings, which immobilize proteins through nucleophile reactions with amine residues. Moreover, enzyme immobilization tests confirmed that the polymer preserves enzymatic activity, highlighting its potential for biosensor applications requiring functional biomolecules. This innovative polymeric coating offers a fast, versatile, and scalable solution for next-generation biosensor platforms, paving the way for improved sensitivity, reliability, and accessibility in diagnostic and analytical technologies. Full article

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of lameness in horses, often necessitating innovative regenerative strategies to restore joint function and improve quality of life. This study investigated the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), ozonized PRP, hyaluronic acid, paracetamol, and polyacrylamide hydrogel (NOLTREX^®) on the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from equine synovial fluid. Synovial fluid samples were collected under strict cytological criteria to ensure viability, followed by in vitro expansion and phenotypic characterization of MSCs. Cultures were supplemented with the tested preparations, and cellular proliferation and viability were evaluated at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days. PRP significantly promoted MSC proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with maximal effect at 10%. Hyaluronic acid stimulated growth, most pronounced at 1 mg/mL, while paracetamol induced a concentration-dependent proliferative response, strongest at 100 μg/mL. NOLTREX displayed a biphasic effect, initially inhibitory at high concentrations but stimulatory at 7 days. Ozonized PRP showed concentration-dependent redox activity, with lower doses maintaining viability and higher doses producing an initial suppression followed by delayed stimulation. Collectively, these findings support the therapeutic potential of PRP and related biologic preparations as intra-articular regenerative therapies in equine medicine, while underscoring the importance of dose optimization and standardized protocols to facilitate clinical translation. Full article

In the presented work, a natural mineral—rock crystal—was used as a filler to obtain new silicone adhesive tapes. It was expected that, properly crushed, this hard mineral, consisting almost entirely of silica (silicon dioxide), should enhance the thermal resistance and cohesion of the self-adhesive composition with no/or low reduction in the rest of performance properties of the products. For this purpose, tests were conducted on the functional properties of new self-adhesive tapes, such as adhesion, cohesion, and tack. The obtained results confirmed the scientific assumptions and the thermal resistance of adhesive layers reached over 225 °C. The material itself turned out to not agglomerate in the adhesive composition and to be compatible with it. The new self-adhesive materials have application potential and can be used as materials for special applications in the field of heating, e.g., in connecting pipes, where thermal resistance and thermal expansion are of immense importance. Full article

Multifunctional coatings integrating high transparency, thermal insulation, and self-cleaning properties are critically needed for optical devices and energy-saving applications, yet simultaneously optimizing these functions remains challenging due to material and structural limitations. This study designed a superhydrophobic transparent thermal insulation coating via synergistic co-construction of micro–nano structures using antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) and SiO₂ nanoparticles dispersed in an epoxy resin matrix, with surface modification by perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) and γ-glycidyl ether oxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560). The optimal superhydrophobic transparent thermal insulating (SHTTI) coating, prepared with 0.6 g SiO₂ and 0.8 g ATO (SHTTI-0.6-0.8), achieved a water contact angle (WCA) of 162.4°, sliding angle (SA) of 3°, and visible light transmittance of 72% at 520 nm. Under simulated solar irradiation, it reduced interior temperature by 7.3 °C compared to blank glass. The SHTTI-0.6-0.8 coating demonstrated robust mechanical durability by maintaining superhydrophobicity through 40 abrasion cycles, 30 tape-peel tests, and sand impacts, combined with chemical stability, effective self-cleaning capability, and exceptional anti-icing performance that prolonged freezing time to 562 s versus 87 s for blank glass. This work provides a viable strategy for high-performance multifunctional coatings through rational component ratio optimization. Full article

Accurate prediction of earthquake—induced building damage is essential for timely disaster response and effective risk mitigation. This study explores a machine learning (ML)-based classification approach using data from the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake, with a specific focus on reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The original dataset from the 2015 Nepal earthquake contained 762,094 building entries across 127 variables describing structural, functional, and contextual characteristics. Three ensemble ML modelsGradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) were trained and tested on both the full dataset and a filtered RC-only subset. Two target variables were considered: a three-class variable (damage_class) and the original five-level damage grade (damage_grade). To address class imbalance, oversampling and undersampling techniques were applied, and model performance was evaluated using accuracy and F1 scores. The results showed that LightGBM consistently outperformed the other models, especially when oversampling was applied. For the RC dataset, LightGBM achieved up to 98% accuracy for damage_class and 93% accuracy for damage_grade, along with high F1 scores ranging between 0.84 and 1.00 across all classes. Feature importance analysis revealed that structural characteristics such as building area, age, and height were the most influential predictors of damage. These findings highlight the value of building-type-specific modeling combined with class balancing techniques to improve the reliability and generalizability of ML-based earthquake damage prediction. Full article