Search Results (23,288)

In order to reduce the environmental pollution caused by waste white mud from the papermaking process, this paper proposes a new method of preparing lightweight concrete using waste white mud and shale ceramsite, aiming to provide a new approach for the recycling of papermaking waste. The main objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing paper-making white clay as a cement replacement in lightweight concrete and to systematically evaluate the influence of key parameters, such as white clay content, on its fundamental mechanical properties. Based on lightweight ceramsite concrete, paper-making white clay was used to replace cement in preparing white clay lightweight concrete. Through orthogonal tests, mix proportion design and optimization were carried out, and the effects of factors like water–binder ratio and white clay content on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and early-age cracking resistance of the concrete were studied. The results show that with the increase in white clay content, the cube compressive strength of concrete first increases and then decreases. When the white clay content is 5%, the splitting tensile strength of the concrete is the highest at all ages, and when the white clay content is 15%, the internal structural compactness of the concrete is optimal. Full article

M-ary frequency-shift keying (MFSK) is employed for several applications, including Internet-of-Things (IoT) and sensor-based communications. Previous studies have demonstrated that coherent detection of well-designed nonorthogonal MFSK signals outperforms orthogonal MFSK. This paper optimizes the error performance of nonorthogonal MFSK signals when the receiver uses a simple coherent detector on a symbol-by-symbol basis. First, we derive the theoretical conditions on the frequency separations to produce M symbol waveforms with negative crosscorrelation. Second, assuming equispaced frequencies, we analytically determine the optimum modulation index that maximizes the minimum distance among the symbol waveforms. Third, assuming non-equispaced frequencies, we optimize both nonorthogonal 4FSK and 8FSK signal sets. The optimized signal waveforms reduce the symbol error probability with respect to the current-best MFSK schemes existing in the literature, at the price of a bandwidth increase. For additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels, an accurate expression for the symbol error probability of nonorthogonal 4FSK is also proposed. Full article

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is a major aquaculture product worldwide. For consumers, discriminating domestic from imported sources of shrimp meat, and individual domestic sources, can be highly desirable because of the different meat quality and environmental contamination from geographically different origins of shrimp. This study evaluated the potential of stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ²H, δ¹⁸O) with chemometric models to authenticate the origins of Pacific white shrimp sold in China. Shrimp samples from domestic (Guangxi, Fujian, Shandong, Inner Mongolia) and foreign (Ecuador) sources were analyzed, using statistical analyses. The four-isotope model achieved 89.3% cross-validation accuracy in distinguishing domestic and foreign shrimp, with an overall prediction Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.901 (95% CI: 0.819–0.983)—significantly outperforming single-isotope models. Differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N reflected feed source variations, while δ²H and δ¹⁸O (Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) > 1, key discriminatory indicators) mirrored geographic environmental difference. Although δ¹⁵N did not differ significantly among groups, the combination of all four isotopes reduced limitations of individual δ²H/δ¹⁸O use. This approach enhanced the precision, reliability, and applicability of stable isotope analysis for origin authentication by leveraging complementary isotopic data and robust statistical frameworks. These findings demonstrate the proposed model’s potential as a cost-effective, copyright-compliant framework for shrimp origin authentication, with implications for isotopic traceability across food science fields. Full article

Background: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is refractory stomatitis in cats. The cure rate of tooth extraction selected as a primary surgical treatment is insufficient. Methods: 52 FCGS-suspected cats, including 22 tooth-extracted and 30 unextracted cats, were studied. Commercially available antiviral and antibacterial agents were orally administered as initial treatment, followed by the antiviral agent solely as maintenance therapy. We examined the influence of prior tooth extraction on the therapeutic efficacy of these two drugs by analyzing changes in some physical signs and clinical laboratory biomarkers. Results: Mass spectrometric analysis revealed the active ingredients of antibacterial and antiviral were Moxifloxacin and Molnupiravir, respectively. All physical signs (weight, appetite, activity level, grooming behavior, ptyalism, erythema) showed statistically significant improvements with combined administration of these drugs. Numbers of white blood cells, neutrophils and monocytes, as well as circulating levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, and serum amyloid-A all statistically significantly decreased with their administration (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were detected between two FCGS groups in the changes in any of the above physical signs or clinical biomarker levels, indicating combination therapy with antibacterial and antiviral agents leads to effective treatment of FCGS, regardless of whether prior tooth extraction was performed or not. Full article

This preliminary study investigates the viability of substituting high-performance Aalborg white Portland cement (CEM I 52.5 R) with five diverse industrial byproducts: wood ash, silica waste, clay brick, glass fibre, and calcined sewage sludge ash. Sewage sludge ash was produced in a laboratory from two different sludges from wastewater treatment plants in the Latvian cities of Jelgava and Liepaja. The research evaluates the influence of substitution levels ranging from 5% to 20% on the rheology of fresh material and its early-age mechanical performance (day 7). Results indicate that particle morphology largely dictates workability; porous and angular materials, such as wood ash, clay brick, and sewage sludge ash, reduce flowability, whereas non-absorbent milled glass fibres unexpectedly improve spread diameter. Regarding mechanical performance, glass fibre and clay brick waste demonstrated the highest potential, exceeding the 48–62 MPa reference compressive strengths by achieving up to 69 MPa at a 10% substitution level. Conversely, wood ash and silica waste exhibited significant strength degradation at higher substitution levels, due to agglomeration and high water demand. This approach not only identifies viable waste streams for cement substitution but also diverts significant industrial waste from landfills, thereby reducing CO₂e emissions and advancing more sustainable construction practices. Full article

Objective: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), also known as Ogilvie syndrome, is a rare but serious complication following cesarean section (CS). Identifying factors associated with its occurrence is critical for early recognition and prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available evidence on factors associated with ACPO following CS. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and CBM) from inception to December 2025. Studies investigating factors associated with ACPO after CS were eligible. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. For factors reported in at least two studies, pooled odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Five case-control studies comprising 484 patients (103 ACPO cases and 381 controls) were included, of which four were rated as good quality. Twenty-five potential associated factors were analyzed. Several pre-/intraoperative factors demonstrated statistically significant associations with ACPO risk, including concomitant anemia (OR = 8.94, 95% CI: 2.59–30.88), previous abdominal surgery (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.28–4.47), surgery duration > 1 h (OR = 4.11, 95% CI: 2.20–7.67), and blood loss > 1000 mL (OR = 5.72, 95% CI: 2.10–15.58). Intraoperative blood loss as a continuous variable (WMD = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.14–2.46) was also significantly associated with ACPO. In contrast, emergency cesarean section, opioid use, and type of anesthesia were not significantly associated. Regarding postoperative features, bed rest > 12 h (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.29–5.49), postoperative fever ≥ 38 °C (OR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.94–7.54), elevated postoperative white blood cell count (WMD = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.30–2.14), and lower postoperative hemoglobin level (WMD = −0.50, 95% CI: −0.83 to −0.18) were significantly associated with ACPO. However, these factors may represent consequences of perioperative complications or components of the early clinical presentation of ACPO. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis identified multiple perioperative factors associated with ACPO following CS. However, the use of univariate data from a limited number of studies limits interpretability. Prospective cohort studies are needed to clarify whether these factors play a causal role in the development of ACPO. Full article

Background/Objectives: Young women with breast cancer (aged ≤ 40 years) have distinct prognostic characteristics, yet little is known about how modifiable body composition factors influence outcomes in this age group. This study examined whether CT-derived body composition measures could identify thresholds that predict overall survival (OS). Methods: This was a single-center, 10-year, matched case–control study nested within a cohort, utilizing retrospectively collected data. Using an institutional database (2009–2018) and the initial cohort of 112 patients, we performed a subset analysis of patients with stage I–III breast cancer at diagnosis who had available pretreatment CT scans to estimate associations with body composition metrics and OS. The final analytic dataset included 89 individuals (49 survivors and 40 deceased). CT scans at the L3 level were analyzed using Slice-O-Matic software to quantify visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (SAT), intermuscular (IMAT), total adipose tissue (TAT), skeletal muscle density (SMD), skeletal muscle gauge (SMG), and skeletal muscle index (SMI). Cox proportional hazard models determined optimal cutpoints for OS. Multivariable models included adjustments for disease stage and hormone receptor status. Results: The median age was 35 (IQR, 32–38); 47% were White and 37% were Black. The majority (78%) were not Hispanic or Latina. Most (67%) were overweight/obese. Specific thresholds for IMAT index (>2.57), VAT (>31.38), and SMG (<2419.89) were associated with worse survival (all p < 0.05), while no cutpoints were identified for other variables. Conclusions: These findings show that muscle fat infiltration and reduced muscle quality have important prognostic value in young women with breast cancer. Exploratory cutpoints derived from routine staging CT scans may help inform risk stratification and generate hypotheses for targeted nutritional or exercise interventions, but require validation in larger, independent cohorts before clinical application. Full article

The catalytic upgrading of vacuum residue (VR) is constrained by the high cost, diffusional limitations, and rapid deactivation of conventional zeolite-based catalysts due to severe coking. Addressing this, we developed novel, low-cost, and coke-resistant catalysts utilizing naturally abundant Iraqi kaolin. A composite support comprising 80 wt.% Iraqi red kaolin and 20 wt.% white kaolin was synthesized via thermal activation at 800 °C and acid leaching. This support was subsequently impregnated with transition and rare-earth metals (Ni, Co, Ce) at 3–40 wt.% loadings, and comprehensively characterized using XRD, BET, SEM-EDX, and XPS. Catalytic performance was evaluated during VR upgrading in a fixed-bed batch reactor at 450 °C. Among the formulations, the 20 wt.% Ce-loaded catalyst (MKRW-800A@Ce20%) exhibited superior efficiency, achieving 80.15% VR conversion, 61.04% liquid yield, and minimal coke formation (3.81 g) compared to Ni and Co counterparts. This enhanced activity is attributed to synergistic effects of improved surface acidity, textural accessibility, and the Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox couple, which promotes selective cracking while suppressing coke precursors. These findings provide new insights into the rational design of natural clay-based catalysts, establishing Ce-modified metakaolin as a viable, sustainable alternative to zeolites for industrial heavy-oil processing. Full article

Background: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contains adipocytes and a stromal-vascular fraction with immune cells that modulate the adjacent vasculature. The presence of immune cells in PVAT of vascular beds is poorly understood—are they resident or recruited? We propose a novel resident microbiome present in PVAT, given the immune-rich stromal environment. Hypothesis: We hypothesized the existence of distinct bacterial and viral communities in healthy PVAT compared to non-PVAT adipose tissues. Methods: PVAT samples from thoracic and abdominal aorta, mesenteric resistance arteries, non-PVAT tissues (subscapular brown adipose tissue, retroperitoneal white adipose tissue), and fecal samples were collected one year apart from male Dahl SS rats, split into two cohorts (2023 and 2024, n = 3 each). Whole-genome shotgun sequencing (CosmosID) and 16S rRNA gene analysis assessed microbial relative abundance. Results: PVAT harbored bacterial and viral sequences, and species composition varied significantly between cohorts. Bacterial and viral fecal samples showed lower variability. Conclusions: PVAT microbiome differed dramatically from the fecal microbiome, with temporal influences on bacterial and viral diversity, marking the first such report. Despite inherent limitations, these findings establish the potential of PVAT microbiota in vascular biology and immune modulation, paving the development of microbiome-targeted drugs to address vascular dysfunctions. Full article

Classroom observation systems can be an important tool for understanding teaching quality. However, the wide range of possible lessons that can be observed raises concerns about whether fixed observation rubrics can measure the intended teaching quality constructs equally well in each lesson. This paper argues for exploring measurement invariance across lessons in observation systems, adopting an understanding of measurement invariance that emphasises the alignment between a theoretical construct and the measurement of that construct. We conceptualise teaching quality using the Protocol for Language Arts Teaching Observation (PLATO). PLATO’s focus on individual items is misaligned to traditional measurement invariance approaches, so we emphasise the importance of detailed, qualitative considerations of how rubric operationalisations of a construct may or may not capture the intended teaching quality construct equally well across lessons with different characteristics. We discuss the affordances and limitations of this way of considering measurement invariance and argue for the importance of ensuring measurement invariance across lessons. Full article

The paper investigates the effect of the degree of HIPS surface yellowness on its properties: colorimetric, surface, rheological, and mechanical. In order to prepare three naturally degraded samples, about 1 kg of white HIPS flakes, semi-yellow HIPS flakes, and yellow HIPS flakes, segregation based on colorimetric analysis was applied. Then, these samples were subjected to ATR-FTIR analysis, sessile drop contact angle measurements, and MFI analysis. These analyses were repeated for standardized specimens made of the segregated HIPS flakes. The average absorbances were determined for 50 HIPS samples of each type in the form flakes. Finally, mechanical tests were carried out on the standardized specimens. As follows from the research, yellowing of the HIPS surface affects the final color of the standardized specimens, which is confirmed by optical colorimetry. Moreover, material degradation demonstrated by yellowing of its surface and confirmed by a decrease in ATR-FTIR spectra absorbance, is associated with changes in mechanical and rheological properties, as well as in surface characteristics. The novelty of this study lies in the investigation of naturally degraded HIPS samples under laboratory conditions (the HIPS materials were not subjected to artificial aging using laboratory equipment), obtained from waste post-consumer cooling devices used in consumers’ homes, representing natural wear and tear of the material. The tests provide insight into both the visual and mechanical properties of components manufactured from recycled HIPS originating from degraded refrigeration equipment. They also constitute a valuable source of information for processors and manufacturers. Full article

This paper presents an analysis of the physicochemical and biological properties of the developed composite zinc phosphate cement modified with bismuth oxide and phosphorus slag additives. The powder phase was synthesized by sintering a frit with an optimal composition (ZnO, MgO, SiO₂, Bi₂O₃) using phosphorus slag as the active component. The study included an assessment of the microstructure, chemical resistance in aggressive environments (5% NaCl solution, 10% lactic acid, carbonated water), solubility in artificial saliva, and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts. The addition of phosphorus slag was found to promote the formation of low-melting eutectics, which reduces the sintering temperature by 100 °C and increases the material’s whiteness to 97.8%. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of zincite, quartz, and periclase phases, forming a dense microstructure without pronounced pores or cracks. The experimental cement demonstrated high acid resistance: the maximum weight loss in lactic acid was 8%, while the leaching of toxic elements (Pb, As, Cr, etc.) remained extremely low (10–67 ppm), confirming the material’s environmental safety. Testing of the composite zinc phosphate cement in artificial saliva revealed minimal weight loss compared to similar products. Biological testing showed that the cement’s cytotoxicity is dose-dependent; at a 0.3 g dose and a 1:4 dilution, the material loses its toxic properties and becomes safe for living tissue. The developed zinc phosphate composite cement composition offers improved aesthetic and mechanical properties, high chemical stability, and biocompatibility at working concentrations, making it promising for use in clinical dentistry. Full article

Modern automotive paints have a thin undercoat and color coat layer protected by a thick clear coat layer. All too often, only the clear coat layer of the automotive paint is recovered at the crime scene of a vehicle-related fatality. Searches for motor vehicle paint databases of clear coats using commercial software typically generate large hitlists that are difficult for a forensic paint examiner to work through unless additional information is provided for the search. To address this problem, deep learning has been applied to the infrared spectra of automotive clear coats to identify patterns in their spectra indicative of the motor vehicle manufacturer. An in-house automotive paint library of 2796 clear coat infrared spectra from six automotive manufacturers and 100 assembly plants was partitioned into training, validation, and prediction sets. Each spectrum has 1880 measurements over the spectral range of 4000 cm⁻¹ to 376 cm⁻¹. Several multilayer perceptron neural network models, each with three hidden layers, were developed that achieved high classification success rates for the training, validation, and prediction sets. The addition of convolutional layers to the deep learning neural network models did not improve the performance of these models. Full article

We previously demonstrated that a clinically relevant dose of pemafibrate (PEM), a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) modulator (SPPARMα), reduces serum triglyceride (TG) levels in mice via hepatic PPARα activation. However, the specific contribution of hepatocyte PPARα remains unclear. To address this, male Ppara-floxed (Ppara^fl/fl) and hepatocyte-specific Ppara-disrupted (Ppara^ΔHep) mice were fed a diet with or without a clinically relevant dose of PEM (0.00005%) for four weeks. In Ppara^fl/fl mice, PEM significantly reduced circulating TG and non-esterified fatty acid levels by enhancing hepatic fatty acid uptake and β-oxidation. In contrast, these effects were absent in Ppara^ΔHep mice. Notably, PEM did not activate PPARα in extrahepatic tissues, including white/brown adipose tissue, kidney, and skeletal muscle in either genotype. These findings underscore the essential role of hepatocyte PPARα in mediating the pharmacological effects of PEM at clinically relevant doses. Full article

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of scleral lenses following corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with keratoconus who underwent CXL and subsequently used scleral lenses for at least one year. A total of 21 patients (23 eyes) with progressive keratoconus were included. CXL was performed using the epithelium-off cross-linking technique following the Dresden protocol. Corneal astigmatism (CA), white-to-white distance, thinnest corneal thickness, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were assessed using corneal topography and tomography. Data were collected before CXL, at one month postoperatively, at the time of scleral lens prescription, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after scleral lens use. Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.6 ± 4.6 years. The baseline uncorrected visual acuity (logMAR) before CXL was 1.05 ± 0.52. The baseline Kmax and CA were 53.01 ± 6.99 and −5.83 ± 3.23 D, respectively. The mean CCT was 444.09 ± 61.82 µm. The mean interval between CXL and scleral lens prescription was 6.75 ± 8.49 months. Following CXL, the Kmean decreased from 49.61 to 45.79 (p = 0.056), Kmax decreased from 53.01 to 51.32 (p = 0.053), and CA decreased from −5.83 to −4.91 D (p = 0.051), albeit statistically non-significant. At the 12-month follow-up after scleral lens prescription, Kmean and Kmax values remained stable, indicating no disease progression. Compared with baseline values before CXL, Kmean, Kmax, and CA were significantly reduced at the 12-month follow-up after scleral lens prescription (p = 0.047, p = 0.049, and p = 0.042, respectively). Scleral lens-corrected visual acuity was significantly better than habitual corrected visual acuity at all follow-up time points. Conclusions: Scleral lens application following CXL was associated with improved corrected visual acuity, and corneal keratometric values remained stable during lens wear. Full article