Search Results (4,322)

Cooking-related emissions represent a major contributor to indoor air pollution in residential kitchens, producing complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odor-causing gases, oil vapors, particulate matter (PM_2.5), and combustion-related pollutants (CO and NO_x). In this study, a controlled ozone-assisted oxidation approach was integrated into a recirculating (ductless) domestic kitchen hood equipped with a confined reaction chamber and experimentally evaluated under closed-loop operating conditions where treated air was returned to the indoor environment after post-treatment. A multivariate Response Surface Methodology (RSM) framework based on the Box–Behnken design was employed to quantify and optimize the coupled effects of temperature (20–30 °C), relative humidity (40–60%), ozone dosage (1–3 ppm within the confined reaction zone), and airflow rate (150–250 m³/h) on multi-pollutant removal performance. The results demonstrate that ozone assistance substantially improves the abatement of oxidation-sensitive pollutants, particularly VOCs and odor, while airflow rate strongly governs transport-dominated pollutants such as PM_2.5 and oil vapors. In contrast, CO and NO_x exhibited limited improvement, indicating that ozone-assisted oxidation alone is insufficient for comprehensive control of combustion-related gases under short-residence-time recirculating hood conditions. The main contribution of this work is the implementation of a demand-driven ozone management strategy, supported by dual ozone sensing for reaction-zone control and outlet safety verification, where ozone generation is activated only in the presence of reactive gaseous pollutants and automatically reduced or terminated once pollutant concentrations fall below predefined thresholds, minimizing unnecessary oxidant release. Residual ozone downstream of the reaction stage was continuously monitored to prevent excess ozone return to the occupied zone. Overall, the proposed closed-loop, feedback-controlled ozone-assisted recirculating range hood concept demonstrated device-level reductions in measured VOC/odor signals under controlled conditions, while also highlighting the need for complementary post-treatment components for particle- and combustion-related pollutants. However, the potential formation of secondary oxidation byproducts was not characterized in this study, and therefore the results should be interpreted with respect to device-level pollutant removal rather than comprehensive indoor air quality improvement. Full article

MoSi₂-based intermetallics are interesting materials for high-temperature applications, due to their moderate density, high melting point and significant oxidation resistance. In this paper, MoSi₂-based materials in the form of multi-layered structures were fabricated by tape casting and pressureless sintering. Composites containing up to 20 wt.% of NbSi₂ were produced, with the aim of obtaining biphasic structures with low pest oxidation at low temperature. The prepared samples were characterised with regard to phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. It was shown that the addition of a limited amount of NbSi₂ prevents the pest oxidation phenomenon characteristic of pure MoSi₂. Silica inclusions responsible for lowering the material toughness, were observed to disappear in the sintered silicides, thanks to the presence, during the binder burn-out, of a reducing atmosphere and to the carbonaceous residua. The phase and composition analysis also revealed the formation of small amounts of secondary phases like silicon carbide. Full article

The present work investigated the thermodynamic behaviors of oxygen in a liquid Fe–Ti alloy over a wide Ti concentration range of 11.6–71.2 wt% at 1873 K by integrating equilibrium experiments with thermodynamic modeling. To prevent excessive oxidation during the equilibrium experiments, the liquid alloys were equilibrated in a purified Ar atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure below ~10⁻²⁰ atm. Two quenching methods—furnace quenching with He gas injection and water quenching via quartz tube suction—were employed to evaluate the effect of cooling rate on total oxygen measurements. While He gas quenching led to higher measured oxygen contents owing to the formation of secondary Ti oxides, the quartz tube suction quenching method consistently yielded significantly lower oxygen values. The dissolved oxygen content increased with increasing Ti content. Electron probe microanalysis identified TiO as a stable equilibrium oxide phase above 11.6 wt% Ti, which was characterized as a face-centered cubic (FCC) rock-salt structure via electron backscatter diffraction analysis. Based on these results, a thermodynamic assessment of oxygen behavior in a liquid Fe–Ti alloy in equilibrium with TiO was performed for the first time using a modified quasichemical model. Consequently, the present model successfully reproduced the Ti–O relationship in the liquid Fe–Ti alloy across both the high-Ti concentration region saturated with TiO and the low-Ti concentration region saturated with Ti₂O₃ and Ti₃O₅. Full article

The fire resistance and thermal propagation delay of a flame-retardant battery pack case (BPC) were investigated in this study for electric vehicles. Following the Lithium-ion traction battery pack and system for electric vehicles, Part 3: Safety requirements and test methods 31467.3-2015 standards, the BPC specimen was exposed to 500–600 °C for 15 min. Six thermocouples monitored the non-exposed surface, which reached a maximum of 149.7 °C, below the 150 °C limit. No flame occurred during or after heating, and the structure maintained integrity without cracks. The results confirm the flame-retardant BPC’s excellent thermal shielding and demonstrate its potential to enhance EV battery safety by delaying heat transfer and preventing secondary ignition. Full article

Background and Objectives: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has markedly improved outcomes in coronary artery disease through the implantation of bare-metal stents (BMS) or drug-eluting stents (DES). However, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a significant complication, often necessitating repeat interventions. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with ISR in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent PCI. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, non-randomized observational study of 107 STEMI patients treated with PCI between January 2016 and December 2019 who subsequently underwent clinically indicated (predominantly symptom-driven) follow-up coronary angiography within 12 months. ISR was defined as ≥50% luminal narrowing at follow-up angiography. Time-to-event analysis was performed using Cox regression models, incorporating clinical, biochemical, and angiographic variables. Results: In this selected cohort of patients undergoing follow-up angiography, ISR of any degree was identified in 87% of patients, and 52% had restenosis >70%. Advanced age, prior cardiovascular events, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and history of stroke significantly increased the hazard of ISR. Smoking, dyslipidemia, and hypertension were prevalent in patients with severe ISR. Women presented with more severe clinical profiles (higher Killip class and troponin levels). DES showed slightly better TIMI flow than BMS, but stent type, dimensions, and number did not significantly impact restenosis risk. Thrombolytic therapy was associated with a significantly reduced ISR hazard. Mortality was 6% in patients with severe ISR. The highest restenosis incidence occurred in the LAD and RCA territories. Conclusions: ISR is a multifactorial process influenced by demographic, clinical, and procedural factors. Despite technological advances, ISR remains a prevalent issue, particularly in high-risk groups undergoing clinically indicated follow-up angiography. Secondary prevention strategies, optimized stent deployment, and targeted therapies addressing inflammation and vascular remodeling are essential to improving long-term PCI outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: The non-consensual dissemination of intimate images constitutes a severe form of online gender-based violence (OGBV) that inflicts profound harm on victims’ sexual privacy, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Taiwan enacted comprehensive legislative reforms in 2023—commonly referred to as the “Four Acts on Sexual Violence Prevention”—to strengthen criminal responses and expand victim protection mechanisms. However, the extent to which these reforms have translated into effective frontline practice remains insufficiently examined. (2) Methods: This qualitative study employed reflexive thematic analysis to investigate frontline professionals’ experiences with enforcing intimate image offence legislation and delivering victim support services. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 practitioners, including social workers, police officers, prosecutors, and lawyers. (3) Results: Three superordinate themes emerged across macro, meso, and micro structural levels. At the macro level, limited public awareness and persistent victim-blaming attitudes undermine prevention, help-seeking, and reporting. At the meso level, legislative fragmentation, challenges in preserving and analysing digital evidence, and inter-agency coordination gaps constrain enforcement capacity. At the micro level, procedural delays, risks of secondary victimization, and perceived inadequacies in compensation and support mechanisms weaken victims’ trust in institutional responses. (4) Conclusions: While Taiwan’s legislative reforms represent a significant institutional advancement, legal reform alone is insufficient to address digital sexual violence effectively. Comprehensive responses require integrated public education initiatives, enhanced inter-agency coordination, strengthened digital investigation capacity, and trauma-informed victim protection practices across all structural levels. In particular, the findings underscore an urgent public health need to establish rapid digital evidence preservation and takedown mechanisms to limit the proliferation of non-consensual sexual images and mitigate the associated mental health harms among victims. Full article

The Eastern Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference convened annually and was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, from 18 to 20 September 2025. Attendees included experts in medical oncology, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, and general practitioners in oncology (GPO) from across the eastern Canadian provinces who are engaged in the care and management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. The consensus statement resulting from this meeting addresses several key topics, including the management of early-stage gastroesophageal junction cancer, recent developments in molecular biomarkers and colorectal cancer treatments, secondary prevention strategies for colorectal cancer, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Full article

Background and Objectives: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce cardiovascular (CV) death and heart failure hospitalizations (HFH) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, data regarding their use in combination with different doses of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether SGLT2i combined with low-dose conventional triple therapy is non-inferior to high-dose conventional triple therapy in preventing adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included 334 patients with HFrEF treated between 31 March 2018 and 31 March 2024. Of these, 110 received SGLT2i plus low-dose conventional triple therapy, and 224 received high-dose conventional triple therapy. A non-inferiority framework was applied to compare outcomes between groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of CV death and HFH, while secondary endpoints included the individual components. Results: The composite endpoint occurred more frequently in the SGLT2i plus low-dose group. After inverse probability of treatment weighting and multivariable Cox analysis, this group demonstrated a significantly higher risk of the composite outcome (adjusted HR 4.10, 95% CI 2.07–8.13; p < 0.001). CV death was similar between groups; however, HFH was significantly more frequent in the SGLT2i plus low-dose group. Conclusions: In patients with HFrEF, SGLT2i combined with low-dose conventional triple therapy did not demonstrate comparable clinical outcomes to high-dose conventional triple therapy in reducing CV death and HFH, particularly in patients with a higher baseline burden of disease severity. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing background GDMT dosing alongside the incorporation of SGLT2i into clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway, often related to genetic mutations or autoantibodies. The introduction of complement C5 inhibitors, such as eculizumab and ravulizumab, has significantly improved renal and overall outcomes. However, complement inhibition impairs host defense against encapsulated bacteria, markedly increasing the risk of invasive infections, particularly Neisseria meningitidis. Vaccination against meningococcal groups ACWY and B, along with temporary antibiotic prophylaxis, is therefore recommended before initiating anti-C5 therapy. Methods: We report the clinical course of a 13-year-old boy with aHUS secondary to anti–complement factor H (CFH) autoantibodies and CFHR3–CFHR1 homozygous deletion, treated with C5 inhibitors. Results: Despite complete meningococcal vaccination and a previous course of antibiotic prophylaxis, the patient developed meningitis during ongoing complement inhibitor therapy. Conclusions: This case highlights that breakthrough invasive infections may occur despite adherence to recommended preventive strategies. It underscores the need for sustained clinical vigilance, timely vaccine boosters, and careful reassessment of the risk–benefit balance of continued complement inhibition therapy. Full article

Histidine triad (HIT) family proteins contain a conserved histidine triad motif and play key roles in fungal metabolism and pathogenicity. This study focused on VD9136, a member of the HIT family in Verticillium dahliae, aiming to elucidate its biological function and mechanism underlying its role in cotton pathogenesis. A systematic investigation of the VD9136 gene in V. dahliae was conducted using bioinformatics analysis, gene knockout, genetic complementation, and pathogenicity assays. The results showed that VD9136 protein consists of 136 amino acids and is a stable, neutral, and weakly hydrophilic protein that lacks transmembrane domains and signal peptides; it is localized to the extracellular space via a non-classical secretion pathway. Its secondary structure is predominantly composed of α-helices and random coils. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that VD9136 is closely related to VliHIT, a homologous protein from V. longisporum, the pathogen responsible for Verticillium wilt in rapeseed. The promoter region of VD9136 contains multiple cis-acting elements, including light-responsive, hormone-responsive, and stress-responsive elements, indicating that its transcription may be regulated by multiple signaling pathways. VD9136 was significantly upregulated during the early stage of cotton infection (6–24 h post-inoculation). Pathogenicity assays demonstrated that V. dahliae knockout mutants lacking VD9136 exhibited a significant reduction in virulence, as evidenced by a lower disease index, decreased fungal biomass within plant tissues, and attenuated vascular browning in cotton plants. The pathogenic phenotype was successfully restored in genetic complementation strains. This study identified VD9136 as a key regulatory factor in the pathogenic process of V. dahliae, and its loss of function reduces the pathogenicity of V. dahliae. The findings provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the pathogenic mechanism of cotton Verticillium wilt and for developing corresponding prevention and control strategies. Full article

Background: In Greece, nutrition education is not taught as an independent subject but is incorporated across multiple disciplines. Objective: To evaluate the extent, distribution, and thematic orientation of nutrition-related content in Greek secondary school textbooks. Methods: A systematic content analysis was conducted on all officially approved textbooks used in Greek secondary education during the academic year 2022–2023. A total of 164 textbooks (26,914 pages) were analyzed. Nutrition-related references were systematically identified using predefined keywords and categorized into thematic domains. Coding was performed independently by two researchers (Cohen’s κ = 0.84). Results: A total of 1426 nutrition-related references were identified. Nutrition-related content was unevenly distributed, with 57.1% in Gymnasium textbooks and 42.9% in Lyceum textbooks. When normalized, Gymnasium textbooks contained 7.47 references per 100 pages compared with 3.82 in Lyceum. Content was primarily focused on biological concepts (27.1%) and health/disease prevention (20.3%), while behavioral (16.5%), psychosocial (16.2%), and sustainability-related (19.8%) dimensions were less represented. No references addressed skills-based nutrition education. Conclusions: Nutrition education in Greek textbooks is present but fragmented and predominantly biologically oriented. The lack of behavioral and skills-based content suggests the need for more comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational approaches. Full article

Plant fungal diseases, such as apple tree canker caused by Valsa mali, have caused severe losses in agricultural production. Traditional chemical fungicides induce drug resistance in pathogens and cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is of substantial importance to screen efficient and environmentally friendly bacterial strains as potential biocontrol agents. The tea rhizosphere harbors abundant microbial resources, and previous research has identified microorganisms with antifungal activity existing in this environment. Therefore, in this study, we isolated antagonistic bacteria with broad-spectrum biocontrol potential from tea rhizosphere soil. In this study, a strain with strong antagonistic activity against V. mali was isolated from tea rhizosphere soil. Based on morphological characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and whole-genome analysis, the isolated strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis and designated as LW-66. This strain demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity against various plant pathogenic fungi, including Valsa mali, Fusarium graminearum, Bipolaris sorokinianum, Alternaria solani, and Exserohilum turcicum. The active extract of B. velezensis maintained strong stability across a wide range of temperatures (25–90 °C) and pH values (2–8), with stability decreasing only when the temperature reached 100 °C or pH ≥ 10. In a preventive assay using detached apple branches inoculated with V. mali, the control efficacy of LW-66 against apple tree canker reached more than 90%. Additionally, in a therapeutic assay using V. mali-infected potted apple seedlings, the LW-66 bone-glue bacterial agent achieved a survival rate of up to 90%. Whole-genome analysis revealed that the genome of LW-66 contains 13 predicted secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, seven of which showed high homology (≥92% similarity) with known antimicrobial gene clusters, including surfactin, bacillaene, macrolactin H, fengycin, difficidin, bacillibactin, and bacilysin. These gene clusters may be connected to the broad-spectrum antifungal activity of B. velezensis, as well as its ability to disrupt hyphal morphology. The volatile organic compounds produced by LW-66 inhibited V. mali growth by 91.70%. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that B. velezensis LW-66 has a wide antimicrobial range and strong antagonistic effects against multiple plant pathogenic fungi. Therefore, B. velezensis shows promise as a biocontrol agent for managing fungal diseases in plants, providing a basis for developing LW-66-derived biocontrol products aimed at controlling diseases such as apple tree canker. Full article

In power systems with a high penetration level of wind power, wind turbines are required to temporarily extract stored rotor kinetic energy to provide primary frequency support, thereby compensating for the limited frequency regulation (FR) capability of the overall system. However, wind turbine participation may lead to underresponse (insufficient frequency support) or overresponse, potentially causing a secondary frequency dip (SFD). Electrolytic aluminum load (EAL), as an industrial load with FR potential, can rapidly adjust its active power input by controlling the electrolytic cell voltage, equivalently increasing the system’s FR capacity and thereby enhancing the load disturbance resistance of power systems with high wind power penetration. This paper first analyzes the causes and mechanisms of the SFD induced by wind turbine overresponse based on a Unified transfer function structure (UTFS) model and introduces the concept of a frequency stability region. Within this region, the virtual droop and virtual inertia coefficients for wind turbines are tuned to prevent SFD during FR. Simultaneously, by involving EAL in system FR, the analysis reveals that its participation essentially equivalently expands the system’s frequency stability region. Building on this analysis and considering spatiotemporal influencing factors, a coordinated wind-aluminum FR control strategy across multiple timescales is proposed to avoid SFD. Finally, a 39-bus simulation system built in DIgSILENT is used for validation. The simulation results indicate that the proposed control strategy effectively suppresses SFD under high wind power penetration conditions, and that the incorporation of EAL significantly expands the frequency stability region of the power system. Full article

Background/Objectives: Energy drinks (EDs) are widely consumed by adolescents despite increasing evidence of adverse health effects. This study aimed to assess ED consumption patterns, risk perception, and associated factors among adolescents in the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between January and March 2025 in a sample of 1250 adolescents aged 13–18 years. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire assessing frequency and age at initiation of ED consumption, motives and contexts of use, perception of adverse effects, and co-occurrence with other risk behaviors. Descriptive analyses and linear regression models were performed to identify predictors of ED consumption. Results: Overall, 29.6% of participants reported occasional or habitual ED consumption. Consumption was significantly higher among upper secondary school students, particularly in social settings and during study-related activities (p < 0.001). ED consumption was significantly associated with other risk behaviors, including alcohol and tobacco use (p < 0.001). Additionally, 8.6% of adolescents reported that EDs have no adverse health effects. Male sex, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use were the main predictors of ED consumption. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of adolescents consume EDs, with early initiation and increasing consumption with age and educational level. Although some adverse effects are recognized, risk perception remains low. These findings underscore the need for preventive, educational, and regulatory strategies to reduce ED consumption and its normalization among adolescents. Full article

Aging is a progressive and heterogeneous biological process influenced by multiple factors that may compromise physical and cognitive capacities and increase the risk of frailty, functional decline, and falls in older adults. Falls represent a major public health concern due to their impact on independence and long-term care demand. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) delivered through active video games (exergames) has emerged as a preventive strategy that integrates sensory, motor, and cognitive stimulation within controlled and engaging environments, particularly where traditional programs face challenges related to adherence and individual adaptation. This study aims to determine the feasibility and implementation of an IVR-based program for falls prevention in older adults at risk of frailty in primary health care (PHC). A quasi-experimental pre–post design will be conducted with an intervention group (IVR/exergames) and a conventional control group, including a total sample of 40 participants (20 per group). The protocol comprises three phases: baseline assessment and IVR familiarization; a 12-week intervention delivered twice weekly; and post-intervention assessment. The primary outcome will be fall risk assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes include physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB, and handgrip dynamometry) and psychological aspects related to falls (Falls Efficacy Scale International, FES-I, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, ABC). Feasibility indicators will include recruitment, adherence, retention, and cybersickness. A reduction in TUG time is expected, providing preliminary evidence on the feasibility of integrating IVR-based programs for falls prevention within PHC systems. Full article