Search Results (241)

The implementation and monitoring of Republic Act (RA) 9003 of the Philippines presents significant challenges due to the vast area and limited number of implementing enforcers. RA 9003 focuses on ecological solid management systems. The law relies on citizens’ identification of violators. In this study, we developed a plastic combustion monitoring system, Green Guardian, which detects and monitors methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations using the Internet of Things technology. The system was tested in Barangay in Cabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines. This system supports RA 9003 implementation, enabling efficient tracking, reporting, and management of plastic combustion incidents. By using self-calibration testing, third-party testing, isolation testing, location testing, and user acceptance test (UAT), the system’s accuracy and reliability were validated. Full article

Deep coalbed methane (CBM) resources possess significant potential. However, their development is challenged by geological characteristics such as high in situ stress and low permeability. Furthermore, existing production strategies often prove inadequate. In order to achieve long-term stable production of deep coalbed methane reservoirs and increase their final recoverable reserves, it is urgent to construct a scientific and reasonable drainage system. This study focuses on the deep CBM reservoir in the Daning-Jixian Block of the Ordos Basin. First, a thermal–hydraulic–mechanical (THM) multi-physics coupling mathematical model was constructed and validated against historical well production data. Then, the model was used to forecast production. Finally, key control measures for enhancing well productivity were identified through production strategy adjustment. The results indicate that controlling the bottom-hole flowing pressure drop rate at 1.5 times the current pressure drop rate accelerates the early-stage pressure drop, enabling gas wells to reach the peak gas production earlier. The optimized pressure drop rates for each stage are as follows: 0.15 MPa/d during the dewatering stage, 0.057 MPa/d during the gas production rise stage, 0.035 MPa/d during the stable production stage, and 0.01 MPa/d during the production decline stage. This strategy increases peak daily gas production by 15.90% and cumulative production by 3.68%. It also avoids excessive pressure drop, which can cause premature production decline during the stable phase. Consequently, the approach maximizes production over the entire life cycle of the well. Mechanistically, the 1.5× flowing pressure drop offers multiple advantages. Firstly, it significantly shortens the dewatering and production ramp-up periods. This acceleration promotes efficient gas desorption, increasing the desorbed gas volume by 1.9%, and enhances diffusion, yielding a 39.2% higher peak diffusion rate, all while preserving reservoir properties. Additionally, this strategy synergistically optimizes the water saturation and temperature fields, which mitigates the water-blocking effect. Furthermore, by enhancing coal matrix shrinkage, it rebounds permeability to 88.9%, thus avoiding stress-induced damage from aggressive extraction. Full article

While often framed as historical or ‘post’colonial, the pervasive legacies of anti-Black racism, rooted in the afterlives of slavery and the dehumanization of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) voices, continues to shape the health experiences of young ACB women in Ontario, Canada. Using an intersectional framework, this qualitative study utilized focus groups (n = 24) to understand factors influencing access to sexual and reproductive health services for young ACB women in southern Ontario. The findings reveal that fostering ACB youth engagement in the design and facilitation of healthcare programs will be vital for creating more responsive spaces to fully express sexual health concerns. It also demonstrates that Eurocentric biomedical frameworks continue to obscure young ACB women’s needs, emphasizing the necessity for culturally relevant care. Lastly, the findings indicate that internalized colonial narratives around health practices perpetuate intergenerationally, further complicating young ACB women’s access to adequate sexual and reproductive healthcare. This examination illuminates the need to address the colonial legacies within healthcare systems that continue to pathologize and hypersexualize young ACB women’s bodies. The study concludes by advocating for intersectional, youth-centered, and culturally competent approaches to dismantling the barriers young ACB women face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Full article

Hydrocarbon-generation intensity (HGI) is a critical indicator for evaluating shale gas potential in source rocks. This study proposes a practical method to estimate HGI by integrating experimental pyrolysis data, EasyRo-based maturity transformation, kinetic modeling, and geological parameters. Using core samples from the Shanxi Formation in the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, gold tube pyrolysis experiments were conducted under closed-system conditions to obtain gas yield data. The EasyRo model was applied to transform temperature to maturity, and a kinetic model was constructed to simulate hydrocarbon generation. Total organic carbon (TOC), maturity (Ro), thickness, and true density were used to calculate HGI at different depths. Spatial prediction of HGI was achieved using Kriging interpolation. Results indicate that although carbonaceous mudstones have higher TOC (14.2%) and gas yields (up to 155.84 mg/g TOC), black mudstones exhibit a 24.77% higher HGI due to greater thickness (average 67.2 m). This highlights the dominant role of formation thickness in controlling. Notably, black mudstones in the deeper western subregion exhibit greater gas-generation potential. These findings offer a robust quantitative basis for evaluating deep coal-measure shale gas resources in the Ordos Basin. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emerging evidence suggests a role of immune–inflammatory mechanisms in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly in the early stages of the illness. Cytokines, as key mediators of inflammation, may affect brain function and clinical presentation. Drug-naive patients with first-episode psychosis (FEDN) offer a unique opportunity to investigate these associations free from confounding pharmacological effects. Methods: This study included 38 patients with drug-naive first episode psychosis and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured using ELISA. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the PANSS scale. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman’s correlations, and ROC curve analysis. Results: Significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-10 were observed in the FEDN group compared to the controls (p < 0.01), while IL-6 levels did not differ significantly. IL-2 exhibited the highest discriminatory power in differentiating the patients from the controls (AUC = 0.917; 95% CI: 0.759–1000.0; p < 0.001). IL-1β levels positively correlated with negative and general psychopathology symptoms, including hostility and grandiosity. IL-10 was associated with volitional disturbance and overall PANSS severity. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the relevance of immune dysregulation in the early stages of psychosis and highlight the potential of specific cytokines, particularly IL-2 and IL-1β, as peripheral biomarkers. Their diagnostic utility and correlation with symptom dimensions suggest a promising role in the development of precision psychiatry approaches, including early detection strategies and individualised therapeutic targeting. Longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings and to assess their prognostic significance. Full article

Many vertebrates have evolved resistance to snake venom as a result of coevolutionary chemical arms races. In Australian skinks (family Scincidae), who often encounter venomous elapid snakes, the frequency, diversity, and molecular basis of venom resistance have been unexplored. This study investigated the evolution of neurotoxin resistance in Australian skinks, focusing on mutations in the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1 subunit’s orthosteric site that prevent pathophysiological binding by α-neurotoxins. We sampled a broad taxonomic range of Australian skinks and sequenced the nAChR α1 subunit gene. Key resistance-conferring mutations at the toxin-binding site (N-glycosylation motifs, proline substitutions, arginine insertions, changes in the electrochemical state of the receptor, and novel cysteines) were identified and mapped onto the skink organismal phylogeny. Comparisons with other venom-resistant taxa (amphibians, mammals, and reptiles) were performed, and structural modelling and binding assays were used to evaluate the impact of these mutations. Multiple independent origins of α-neurotoxin resistance were found across diverse skink lineages. Thirteen lineages evolved at least one resistance motif and twelve additional motifs evolved within these lineages, for a total of twenty-five times of α-neurotoxic venoms resistance. These changes sterically or electrostatically inhibit neurotoxin binding. Convergent mutations at the orthosteric site include the introduction of N-linked glycosylation sites previously known from animals as diverse as cobras and mongooses. However, an arginine (R) substitution at position 187 was also shown to have evolved on multiple occasions in Australian skinks, a modification previously shown to be responsible for the Honey Badger’s iconic resistance to cobra venom. Functional testing confirmed this mode of resistance in skinks. Our findings reveal that venom resistance has evolved extensively and convergently in Australian skinks through repeated molecular adaptations of the nAChR in response to the enormous selection pressure exerted by elapid snakes subsequent to their arrival and continent-wide dispersal in Australia. These toxicological findings highlight a remarkable example of convergent evolution across vertebrates and provide insight into the adaptive significance of toxin resistance in snake–lizard ecological interactions. Full article

This review will focus on how ethnic consumption of foods such as shiitake, ginseng, turmeric, black seeds, berries, rosemary, moringa and holy basil can help act as antioxidants and immune modulators in fighting many diseases. We will investigate how these foods act on pathways like Nrf2/Keap1 to increase endogenous antioxidant capacity and help in reducing ROS production, based on publications found in PubMed between 1994 and 2024. In addition, we will show how these plants can cause immune system shifts by changing the makeup of the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells, reduce inflammation, and have antiangiogenic effects on cancer. This review will also show how plants can alter the gut microbiota and lead to a further decrease in oxidative stress. Overall, it will show how plants and their metabolites can potentially create a path forward for creating novel therapeutic approaches and help lead to an improved redox balance, support immune function, and enhance long-term health outcomes. Full article

In comparison to shallow coal seams, deep coal seams exhibit characteristics of high temperature, pressure, and in-situ stress, leading to significant differences in reservoir properties that constrain the effective development of deep coalbed methane (CBM). This study takes the Carboniferous deep 8# coal seam in the Yulin area of Ordos basin as the research subject. Based on the test results from core drilling wells, a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and variation patterns of coal reservoir properties and a comparative analysis of the exploration and development potential of deep CBM are conducted, aiming to provide guidance for the development of deep CBM in the Ordos basin. The research results indicate that the coal seams are primarily composed of primary structure coal, with semi-bright to bright being the dominant macroscopic coal types. The maximum vitrinite reflectance (R_o,max) ranges between 1.99% and 2.24%, the organic is type III, and the high Vitrinite content provides a substantial material basis for the generation of CBM. Longitudinally, influenced by sedimentary environment and plant types, the lower part of the coal seam exhibits higher Vitrinite content and fixed carbon (FC_ad). The pore morphology is mainly characterized by wedge-shaped/parallel plate-shaped pores and open ventilation pores, with good connectivity, which is favorable for the storage and output of CBM. Micropores (<2 nm) have the highest volume proportion, showing an increasing trend with burial depth, and due to interlayer sliding and capillary condensation, the pore size (<2 nm) distribution follows an N shape. The full-scale pore heterogeneity (fractal dimension) gradually increases with increasing buried depth. Macroscopic fractures are mostly found in bright coal bands, while microscopic fractures are more developed in Vitrinite, showing a positive correlation between fracture density and Vitrinite content. The porosity and permeability conditions of reservoirs are comparable to the Daning–Jixian block, mostly constituting oversaturated gas reservoirs with a critical depth of 2400–2600 m and a high proportion of free gas, exhibiting promising development prospects, and the middle and upper coal seams are favorable intervals. In terms of resource conditions, preservation conditions, and reservoir alterability, the development potential of CBM from the Carboniferous deep 8# coal seam is comparable to the Linxing block but inferior to the Daning–Jixian block and Baijiahai uplift. Full article

Shale and coal in the transitional marine–continental facies of the Ordos Basin serve as unconventional natural gas reservoirs, with their pore structures controlling gas adsorption characteristics and occurrence states. To quantitatively characterize the pore structure features and differences between these two reservoirs, this study takes the Shanxi Formation shale and coal in the Daning–Jixian area on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin as examples. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-temperature N₂ adsorption, and low-pressure CO₂ adsorption experiments were employed to analyze and compare the full-scale pore structures of the shale and coal reservoirs. Combined with methane isothermal adsorption experiments, the gas adsorption capacity and its differences in these reservoirs were investigated. The results indicate that the average total organic carbon (TOC) content of shale is 2.66%, with well-developed organic pores, inorganic pores, and microfractures. Organic pores are the most common, typically occurring densely and in clusters. The average TOC content of coal is 74.22%, with organic gas pores being the dominant pore type, significantly larger in diameter than those in transitional marine–continental facies shale and marine shale. In coal, micropores contribute the most to pore volume, while mesopores and macropores contribute less. In shale, mesopores dominate, followed by micropores, with macropores being underdeveloped. Both coal and shale exhibit a high SSA primarily contributed by micropores, with organic matter serving as the material basis for micropore development. The methane adsorption capacity of coal is 8–29 times higher than that of shale. Coal contains abundant organic micropores, providing a large SSA and numerous adsorption sites for methane, facilitating gas adsorption and storage. This study comprehensively reveals the similarities and differences in pore structures between transitional marine–continental facies shale and coal reservoirs in the Ordos Basin at the microscale, providing a scientific basis for the precise evaluation and development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Full article

This article highlights the importance of evaluating the morphological characteristics of female dogs during breeding soundness examinations (BSEs) to assess their reproductive potential and ensure the health of future offspring. Key traits considered in this evaluation include body type, body condition score, skull size and shape, mammary gland conformation, and coat quality. Each of these factors plays a significant role in the health and fertility of breeding females. For example, deviations from breed standards in body size can lead to complications during pregnancy and whelping, while an inappropriate body condition score may disrupt hormonal balance and reproductive cycles. This review also addresses concerns related to brachycephalic breeds, whose conformation can contribute to respiratory and reproductive issues. Additionally, assessing vertebral and pelvic conformation is crucial to prevent dystocia and other complications during delivery. By systematically evaluating these morphological traits, veterinarians can promote ethical breeding practices that prioritize the welfare and genetic health of both breeding females and their puppies. Therefore, integrating comprehensive morphological evaluations into BSEs is essential for responsible dog breeding management, ultimately supporting better reproductive outcomes and healthier future generations. Full article

Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SuAVR) has emerged as a potential alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), particularly in minimally invasive settings. However, its global adoption remains limited, with a notable concentration of use and scientific production in select European countries. This bibliographic meta-analysis systematically reviewed 538 studies to assess the evidence landscape surrounding SuAVR, highlighting a predominance of observational data, sparse randomized controlled trials (1.3%), and significant geographical imbalances in research output. Europe accounted for 80% of publications, while North America contributed less than 10%. Key structural factors—including reimbursement policies, earlier regulatory approvals, and population characteristics—appear to influence SuAVR adoption. Despite procedural advantages such as reduced cross-clamp times, concerns over cost, pacemaker implantation rates, and uncertain long-term durability persist. Importantly, SuAVR may offer its greatest clinical value by facilitating minimally invasive surgery, a niche still underutilized worldwide. The limited randomized data and industrial focus on transcatheter approaches have further hindered widespread acceptance. Our findings underscore the need for high-quality comparative trials and standardized guidelines to define the role of SuAVR in modern valve therapy. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), also referred to as congenital femoral deficiency, is a longitudinal limb deficiency and birth defect that affects the lower extremity including the hip and femur, resulting in a deformed and shortened limb. It can be diagnosed and classified using a combination of imaging modalities, including radiographs, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography. It is crucial to characterize this birth defect in the prenatal period to appropriately prepare parents through counseling. Postnatal imaging should be performed to confirm the diagnosis, prognosticate and predict the patient’s course for treatment and management. Close follow-up and family/patient-centered care contribute to optimized patient outcomes. Case Presentation: Here, we present a series of three cases of varying PFFD severity and presentation, detailing the evaluation process, the limitations and value of imaging, and the treatment outcomes of these patients. Each case has a different PFFD classification and treatment strategy that we utilized according to the data that we attained through continuous patient care and discussion. Conclusions: We highlight the difficulties in identifying and classifying PFFD in the prenatal period while demonstrating how postnatal imaging clarified the diagnosis and informed appropriate counseling and treatment. Close follow-up and the length of patient continuity allowed us to maximize patient outcomes despite the variety in PFFD presentation and severity. Full article

Background: Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. In Colombia, asbestos use began in 1942, but mortality surveillance remains limited. Long latency periods and poor documentation hinder public health action. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using mortality data from 1997 to 2022 obtained from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), including all mesothelioma cases recorded under the five ICD-10 diagnostic categories (C45.0 to C45.9), covering all anatomical sites of first occurrence. Variables analyzed included sex, age, occupation, and place of residence. Mortality rates and trends were estimated using R, Excel, JoinPoint, and Minitab. Results: A total of 1539 mesothelioma deaths were recorded. Most occurred in men (65.1%) and in individuals over 60 years old (62.6%). Urban areas accounted for 92% of deaths. The most frequent diagnosis was unspecified mesothelioma (61.3%). Cities with the highest adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants were Sibaté (38.36), Soacha (8.41), and Bogotá (1.89), aligning with historical exposure zones. Conclusions: Mesothelioma is still a preventable public health issue in Colombia, with sustained mortality affecting even working-age populations. The high rate of unspecified diagnoses and weak linkage between morbidity and mortality data underscore the need to strengthen diagnostic capacity, improve surveillance, and implement a national asbestos-related disease elimination strategy. Full article

The Carboniferous–Permian strata in the Daning–Jixian Block, located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin, host multiple sets of tight gas reservoirs. However, systematic research on the characteristics and gas production differences of multilayer tight sandstone gas-bearing systems remains limited. Based on geochemical signatures, reservoir pressure coefficients, and sequence stratigraphy, the tight sandstone gas systems are subdivided into upper and lower systems, separated by regionally extensive Taiyuan Formation limestone. The upper system is further partitioned into four subsystems. Depositional variability from the Benxi Formation to the He 8 Member has generated diverse litho-mineralogical characteristics. The Shan 1 and He 8 Members, deposited in low-energy delta-front subaqueous distributary channels with gentle topography, exhibit lower quartz content (predominantly feldspar lithic sandstone and lithic quartz sand-stone) and elevated lithic fragments, matrix, and clay minerals (particularly chlorite). These factors increase displacement and median pressures, resulting in inferior reservoir quality. By comparing and evaluating the gas production effects under different extraction methods, targeted optimization recommendations are provided to offer both theoretical support and practical guidance for the efficient development of this block. Full article

This study investigates the Huangdong Daning River Bridge project in Guangxi, where the innovative side-span and mid-span synchronous closure technology for continuous rigid-frame bridges (CRFB) was systematically implemented for the first time in this region of China. A comparative finite element model developed in MIDAS Civil 2024 was employed to analyze the mechanical behavior mechanisms of main girders under span-by-span closure and synchronous closure processes. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the stress distribution in main girders shows no significant sensitivity (<3%) to closure method differences during both the bridge completion phase and 10-year shrinkage-creep cycle. However, distinct closure sequences (asynchronous vs. synchronous) exhibited notable impacts on the girder alignment at the completion stage. The cumulative deviation induced by differential installation elevations of formwork segments necessitates precise dynamic control during construction monitoring. Furthermore, shrinkage and creep effects manifested differential influences on pier top horizontal displacements and bending moments when employing different closure methods, though all variations remained within 5%. The synchronous multi-span closure technology effectively mitigates structural mutation risks during construction while achieving superior alignment accuracy, rational stress distribution, and accelerated construction progress as verified by field implementation. Full article