Search Results (7,485)

Global water environment monitoring urgently requires remote sensing data with high temporal resolution and wide spatial coverage. However, current space-borne ocean color spectrometers still face a significant trade-off among spatial resolution, swath width, and system compactness, which limits the large-scale deployment of satellite constellations. To address this challenge, this study developed a lightweight high-resolution spectral imager (LHRSI) with a total mass of less than 25 kg and power consumption below 80 W. The visible (VIS) camera adopts an interleaved dual-field-of-view and detectors splicing fusion design, while the shortwave infrared (SWIR) camera employs a transmission-type focal plane with staggered detector arrays. Through the field-of-view (FOV) optical design, the instrument achieves swath widths of 207.33 km for the VIS bands and 187.8 km for the SWIR bands at an orbital altitude of 500 km, while maintaining spatial resolutions of 12 m and 24 m, respectively. On-orbit imaging results demonstrate that the spectrometer achieves excellent performance in both spatial resolution and swath width. In addition, preliminary analysis using index-based indicators illustrates LHRSI’s potential for observing chlorophyll-related features in water bodies. This research not only provides a high-performance, miniaturized spectrometer solution but also lays an engineering foundation for developing low-cost, high-revisit global ocean and water environment monitoring constellations. Full article

Background: Self-harm is a growing public health concern and the strongest predictor of suicide in young people (YP). The “Supporting Adolescents with Self-Harm” (SASH) intervention was developed with YP with lived experience and expert clinicians. It involves rapid follow-up after ED attendance and up to six intervention sessions. The intervention has three components: Therapeutic Assessment (TA) of self-harm; an enhanced safety plan (SP); and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Depending on the YP’s preference, carers can join sessions. Carers can also receive two individual sessions. The clinical and cost-effectiveness of SASH is being evaluated in a randomised controlled trial across nine emergency departments in three NHS Trusts in London, England. A total of 154 YP were recruited between May 2023 and March 2025 and randomised on a 1:1 ratio to SASH alongside Treatment As Usual (TAU) or TAU. A logic model describes the SASH inputs, activities, mechanisms, outcomes and longer-term impacts. The aim of this paper is to (1) illustrate how TA, SP, and SFBT were implemented in practice by presenting intervention materials and session recordings for four YP cases and one carer case and (2) explore how the case study materials/recordings reflect the intervention mechanisms in the SASH logic model. Methods: Each case focused on a different component of the intervention. Intervention materials (TA self-harm diagram and completed SP) and recorded SFBT sessions with four YP and one carer were analysed using a descriptive case study approach. The TA diagram and SP were extracted from medical records. Audio/video recordings of intervention sessions were identified. Recordings of intervention sessions and qualitative interviews were transcribed. Quotes from qualitative interviews with the same participants were included where relevant. Results: Across the four YP cases, some core themes emerged. The role of friendships for young people, particularly at school, was important in both negative and positive ways. Experiencing difficulties with friends at school led to feelings of sadness and stress, which could become overwhelming, leading to thoughts of self-harm (“I just need to hurt myself”), triggering self-harm behaviour. YP described mood changes and signs that they were becoming stressed, which improved their self-awareness and understanding of the link between their feelings and self-harm behaviour. They reflected on what kept them feeling calm and overcoming their fear of burdening others by sharing how they were feeling, as this helped them not to self-harm. They also described difficult feelings stemming from a need to please everyone or needing validation from others. Overcoming these feelings led to less social anxiety and more confidence. This made it easier to go to school and to be more social with friends/student peers, which in turn improved their mood. Conclusions: These case studies demonstrate how YP improved their self-awareness and understanding of the link between feelings and self-harm behaviour and identified personal strategies for managing difficult feelings and situations. The carer case study demonstrates how sessions with carers can facilitate carers better supporting their YP’s mental health. Supporting YP and carers in this way has the potential to reduce the risk of future self-harm. Full article

This study examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) occurrences relate to firm performance and how these relationships depend on firms’ investments in brand capital. Using firm-level data spanning more than two decades, we analyze the effects of positive and negative ESG events on market-based (sales) and accounting-based (return on assets; ROA) performance for firms with and without brand capital investment (BCI). Using panel data on U.S. firms from 1995 to 2019, we compare firms that invest in brand capital through advertising with firms that do not. The results reveal an interesting asymmetric pattern. Specifically, BCI firms experience greater sales gains following positive ESG occurrences but incur significantly larger losses following negative ESG events. Interestingly, non-BCI firms benefit less from positive ESG activities but face smaller penalties from negative ESG occurrences. This study contributes to the marketing literature by examining brand capital investment and how ESG activities translate into performance gains versus when they impose performance costs for firms. Full article

Climate change and increasing greenhouse gas emissions are driving the global transition to clean energy, with solar energy experiencing the fastest growth among renewable sources in 2024. Solar PV for energy generation in Kenya is gaining momentum as the country moves towards achieving 100% clean energy by 2030. As solar PV penetration in the grid grows, it is necessary to evaluate its impact on system costs to inform policy decisions on capacity expansion options in the Least-Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP). This study investigates the effect of large-scale solar PV expansion on electricity costs using the Open-Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS), a modular, bottom-up capacity expansion model. Four scenarios were developed to assess different levels of solar PV penetration: business-as-usual (BAU), moderate-solar-PV expansion (MSPV), high-solar-PV expansion (HSPV), and very-high-solar-PV expansion (VHSPV). The results indicate that, while overall solar PV expansion significantly contributes to decarbonising Kenya’s electricity mix by displacing fossil-based generation, it also increases annual investment obligations and, consequently, total system costs. The system-levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) is shown to rise by 0.2%, 5.7%, and 14.0% under MSPV, HSPV, and VHSPV, respectively, compared to BAU. Analysing the various cost components against sustainability indicators reveals that the least-cost scenario is BAU while the most favourable scenario based on sustainability indicators is VHSPV, which performs best across technical, environmental, and institutional dimensions but less favourably on economic and social aspects, thereby highlighting a trade-off between sustainability and cost minimisation, at least in the short term. Full article

Background: The integration of markerless motion capture systems such as OpenCap with force platforms expands the possibilities of biomechanical analysis in low-cost environments; however, it requires robust temporal synchronization procedures in the absence of shared hardware triggers. Objective: To develop and validate an automatic synchronization algorithm based on heel kinematic events to align OpenCap data with force platform signals during lower-limb functional exercises. Methods: Thirty normal-weight adult women (18–45 years) were evaluated while performing between 11 and 14 functional tasks (60° and 90° squats, lunges, sliding variations, and step exercises), yielding 330 motion records. Kinematics were estimated using OpenCap (four iPhone 12 cameras at 60 Hz), and kinetics were recorded using BTS P6000 force platforms synchronized with an OptiTrack system (Gold Standard). The algorithm detected heel contact from the filtered vertical coordinate and aligned this event with the initial rise in vertical ground reaction force. Validation against the Gold Standard was performed in 20 squat repetitions (10 at 60° and 10 at 90°) using Pearson correlation, RMSE, and MAE of the time-normalized and amplitude-normalized (0–1) vertical ground reaction force (vGRF). Results: The algorithm successfully synchronized 92.5% of the 330 records; the remaining cases showed kinematic noise or additional steps that prevented robust event detection. During validation, correlations were r = 0.85 (60°) and r = 0.81 (90°), with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) < 0.17 and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) < 0.14, values representing less than 0.1% of the peak force. Conclusions: The heel-contact-based algorithm allows accurate synchronization of OpenCap and force platform signals during lower-limb functional exercises, achieving performance comparable to hardware-synchronized systems. This approach facilitates the integration of markerless motion capture in clinical, sports, and occupational settings where advanced dynamic analysis is required with limited infrastructure. Full article

Cell line misidentification, first exposed when HeLa cells were shown to contaminate dozens of “unique” cultures, now compromises roughly one in five lines and renders thousands of papers potentially unreliable, propagating unreliable data through hundreds of thousands of citations. The financial fallout is vast with irreproducible research linked to faulty cell stocks costing the United States an estimated $28 billion each year. Today, authentication is rapid, cheap and highly accurate. Modern 24-plex short tandem repeat (STR) kits, analyzed by six-dye capillary electrophoresis and benchmarked against public databases, verify a culture in half a day for less than €40, lowering the probability of mistaken identity to less than 10–15. Complementary SNP panels, low-pass genome sequencing, digital PCR and nascent methylation “age clocks” close remaining blind spots such as aneuploidy or mixed-species co-cultures. Monte-Carlo modeling shows that even at a contamination risk of 0.07% routine STR testing yields a five-year return on investment above 3000% for a mid-size lab. Reflecting this evidence, ANSI/ATCC standards, NIH and Horizon Europe grants, major journals and FDA/EMA guidelines now encourage, recommend, or make authentication mandatory. This review discusses the historical roots and economic losses resulting from cell misidentification and contamination and offers a pragmatic roadmap to prevent working with falsified cell lines. It is further discussed that FAIR-compliant data archiving and integration of STR workflows into laboratory data management systems will allow laboratories to shift from sporadic testing of cell quality to continuous, artificial intelligence-supported assessments. Full article

The automation of logistics processes in companies is an essential part of the modernization and advancement of companies around the world. This article deals with the issue of deploying a selected type of automated guided vehicle (AGV) in very specific conditions. AGV is suitable for optimizing the circular supply chain in specific conditions of a manufacturing company. The deployment of AGVs is governed by the production needs of the section in question. The selection criterion was therefore the quantity of products that needed to be transported on the selected route. The article uses a new calculation of AGV requirements based on the saturation of individual components from the picking location to the assembly line. The ratio indicator was considered: driving time per shift, depending on the length of working time. Based on this calculation, the most effective option was applied from the individual solutions. Based on our calculation, we arrived at a requirement for three AGVs, plus a reserve, i.e., four. Our selected calculations were applied to the FRONT and TOP positions, where a decision was made between the option of using under-run AGVs or a truck. The decision was made based on the saturation level, and the result is described at the end of the discussion. The AGV is one of the tools for sustainable supply chain management in a company. However, it is important to evaluate the total cost of ownership, including lower labour costs, less risk of damage to goods, higher productivity, and long service life of the trucks. Thanks to these factors, AGVs often prove to be economically advantageous. Full article

The coronavirus is highly contagious, making rapid early diagnosis essential. Although deep learning-based diagnostic methods using CT or X-ray images have advanced significantly, they still face limitations in cost, processing time, and radiation exposure. In addition, for the possibility of real-time COVID-19 diagnosis, model lightweighting is required. This study proposes a lightweight deep learning model for COVID-19 diagnosis based on fluorescence images and demonstrates its applicability in embedded environments. To prevent data imbalance caused by noise and experimental variations, images were preprocessed using Gray Scale conversion, CLAHE, and Z-Score normalization to equalize brightness values. Among the tested architectures—VGG, ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet—ResNet152 and VGG13 achieved the highest accuracies of 97.25% and 93.58%, respectively, and were selected for lightweighting. Layer-wise importance was calculated using an imprinting-based method, and less important layers were pruned. The pruned VGG13 maintained its accuracy while reducing model size by 18.9 MB and parameters by 4.2 M. ResNet152 (Prune 39) improved accuracy by 1% while reducing size by 161.5 MB and parameters by 40.22 M. The optimized model achieved 129.97 ms, corresponding to 7.69 frames per second (FPS) on an NPU(Furiosa AI Warboy), proving real-time COVID-19 diagnosis is feasible even on low-power edge devices. Full article

Mango is the second most widely cultivated tropical fruit in the world. Its harvesting mainly relies on manual labor. During the harvest season, the hot weather leads to low working efficiency and high labor costs. Current research on automatic mango harvesting mainly focuses on locating the fruit stem harvesting point, followed by stem clamping and cutting. However, these methods are less effective when the stem is occluded. To address these issues, this study first acquires images of four mango varieties in a mixed cultivation orchard and builds a dataset. Mango detection and occlusion-state classification models are then established based on YOLOv11m and YOLOv8l-cls, respectively. The detection model achieves an AP_0.5–0.95 (average precision at IoU = 0.50:0.05:0.95) of 90.21%, and the accuracy of the classification model is 96.9%. Second, based on the mango growth characteristics, detected mango bounding boxes and binocular vision, we propose a spatial localization method for the mango grasping point. Building on this, a mango-grasping and stem-cutting end-effector is designed. Finally, a mango harvesting robot system is developed, and verification experiments are carried out. The experimental results show that the harvesting method and procedure are well-suited for situations where the fruit stem is occluded, as well as for fruits with no occlusion or partial occlusion. The mango grasping success rate reaches 96.74%, the stem cutting success rate is 91.30%, and the fruit injury rate is less than 5%. The average image processing time is 119.4 ms. The results prove the feasibility of the proposed methods. Full article

Decarbonizing industry, improving urban sustainability, and expanding clean energy use are key global priorities. This study presents a techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) of green hydrogen (GH₂) production via water electrolysis for low-carbon applications in the Central Asian region, with Uzbekistan considered as a representative case study. Solar PV and wind power are used as renewable electricity sources for a 44 MW electrolyzer. The assessment also incorporates recent advances in alkaline water electrolyzers (AWE) enhanced with metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, reflecting improvements in efficiency and hydrogen output. The LCA, performed using SimaPro, evaluates the global warming potential (GWP) across the full hydrogen production chain. Results show that the MOF-enhanced AWE system achieves a lower levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) at 5.18 $/kg H₂, compared with 5.90 $/kg H₂ for conventional AWE, with electricity procurement remaining the dominant cost driver. Environmentally, green hydrogen pathways reduce GWP by 80–83% relative to steam methane reforming (SMR), with AWE–MOF delivering the lowest footprint at 1.97 kg CO₂/kg H₂. In transport applications, fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen derived from AWE–MOF emit 89% less CO₂ per 100 km than diesel vehicles and 83% less than using SMR-based hydrogen, demonstrating the substantial climate benefits of advanced electrolysis. Overall, the findings confirm that MOF-integrated AWE offers a strong balance of economic viability and environmental performance. The study highlights green hydrogen’s strategic role in the Central Asian region, represented by Uzbekistan’s energy transition, and provides evidence-based insights for guiding low-carbon hydrogen deployment. Full article

Pharmaceutical contamination poses growing environmental risks, yet industrial adoption of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) remains limited by high costs and the environmental impacts associated with specialized electrodes. This study demonstrates that unmodified aluminum electrodes achieve pharmaceutical degradation performance comparable to precious metal systems at dramatically reduced cost and carbon footprint. An aluminum-based electro-Fenton (EF) system was optimized for amlodipine (AML) removal through systematic evaluation of operational parameters. Under optimized conditions (pH 2.7, 35 mg L⁻¹ FeCl₃, 1.3 mM NaCl, 5 V), the system achieved 97% AML degradation within 15 min, following pseudo-first-order kinetics ($k=0.15$ min⁻¹). The mechanism combines hydroxyl radical oxidation with synergistic electrocoagulation resulting from anodic Al³⁺ release and cathodic Fe²⁺ regeneration. Sustainability assessment revealed exceptional performance: an energy consumption of 0.32 kWh m⁻³, a carbon footprint of 0.53 kg CO₂-eq m⁻³ (60–75% lower than conventional AOPs), and operational costs of $0.71–1.05 m⁻³. Aluminum electrodes cost 100× less than platinum alternatives, with the generated Al(OH)₃ sludge offering valorization potential. This work demonstrates that high-performance electrochemical remediation is achievable using Earth-abundant materials, providing a scalable and cost-effective alternative for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment in resource-constrained settings. Full article

Introduction: Intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a specialised radiotherapy technique that plays an essential role in achieving local control of brain metastases and therefore optimising quality of life for many cancer patients. It also confers a survival benefit in selected patients. Rural and regional Australians may face significant challenges in accessing this treatment, as it is predominantly delivered at metropolitan institutions. We sought to assess the cost-effectiveness of a brain SRS service implemented using local resources at a North Queensland regional hospital from a societal perspective. Methods: We prospectively collected treatment costs and clinical outcomes for a consecutive cohort of patients who received SRS for intracranial metastatic lesions at a regional cancer centre since the implementation of the brain SRS program in September 2022. We compared the healthcare and non-healthcare costs (e.g., travel and informal care) with the costs that would have otherwise been incurred if patients were referred to metropolitan centres in the state capital. Clinical outcomes incorporated overall survival, intracranial disease control rates, and incidence of radiation necrosis. Clinical outcome data of the metropolitan centres were derived from the published literature. Results: A total of 34 patients received treatment during the study period. Their median age was 65 years (range: 49–78 years). Around 47% received adjuvant SRS following surgical resection, and the remaining 53% were treated for intact brain metastases. The predominant primary malignancy was non-small cell lung cancer. The mean total cost per course of brain SRS at a regional hospital was AUD 6690, including AUD 5754 for healthcare and AUD 1682 for non-healthcare costs, across 34 patients recruited between September 2022 and August 2024. This was AUD 760 less than that of a course of treatment delivered at a metropolitan hospital. Median survival among the cohort was 15.7 months, and eight patients (24%) developed radionecrosis; these were comparable to published data reported by Australian urban and international institutions. Conclusions: The implementation of a brain SRS service at regional cancer centres utilising existing infrastructure and local expertise has the potential to offer cost-effective treatment to rural and regional cancer patients. This approach improves access for patients who might otherwise face logistics barriers and competing life priorities when seeking treatment in metropolitan centres. Full article

This study investigates how economic development interacts with sustainability performance in the European Union, focusing on the structural and technological factors that shape progress in the green transition. Using Eurostat data for 27 EU member states over the period 2015–2023, the analysis employs panel econometric models (Pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects) to explore how circular economy performance, innovation capacity, human capital, and renewable energy use influence environmental and economic outcomes across member states. The results show that R&D intensity and skilled human resources are key drivers of sustainability. Higher levels of circular material use and resource productivity contribute to long-term competitiveness. In contrast, uneven progress in renewable energy deployment points to persistent regional disparities and possible structural constraints that limit convergence. Northern and Western Europe record the strongest advances in innovation and environmental efficiency, whereas Southern and Eastern regions remain affected by industrial legacies and lower absorptive capacity. The findings highlight that, in the short term, renewable energy expansion may involve adjustment costs and potential trade-offs with economic competitiveness in less technologically developed economies. This study provides new comparative evidence on the differentiated pathways of the green transition across the EU. Policy implications suggest the need to reinforce R&D investment, expand circular manufacturing, and support an inclusive technological transition consistent with the European Green Deal and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Full article

Background and Objectives: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a potentially life-threatening complication in children undergoing cancer treatment. Immediate initiation of empirical antibiotic treatment (EAT) has improved the prognosis and outcomes of FN. Although the ideal timing for initiating EAT is clear, the optimal timing for EAT discontinuation remains debatable. Early hospital discharge (EHD) with continuation of oral antibiotics has also been proposed as an alternative strategy. This narrative review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the evidence on early discontinuation of EAT or EHD in children with FN and cancer. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify relevant studies assessing early EAT discontinuation or EHD in children with cancer and FN. Extracted data included the safety outcomes, the benefits for the patients and the cost for healthcare systems. Results: Thirty-one studies were included; twenty-one investigated the early discontinuation of EAT and ten studies evaluated EHD. Most studies reported early discontinuation of EAT or EHD as a safe FN treatment approach with potential benefits for the patients, especially when applied to selected low-risk FN cases. Reported benefits included shorter hospitalization duration and reduced antibiotic use, with additional economic advantages in several studies. Conclusions: Early discontinuation of EAT appears to be a safe and beneficial management approach for children with FN and cancer by reducing the length of hospital stay and the duration of antibiotic use. EHD with oral therapy continuation also appears to be safe but less beneficial than early discontinuation of EAT. High-quality evidence and standardized criteria are needed to support broader implementation of these strategies in routine clinical practice. Full article

Beetroot juice (BRJ), a concentrated dietary source of nitrate alongside betalains and polyphenols, influences physiology through enhanced nitrate–nitrite–NO bioavailability, antioxidant activity, and interactions with oral and gut nitrate-reducing microbiota. The efficiency of these mechanisms depends on dose, timing, and preservation of oral bacteria, with antibacterial mouthwash or thiocyanate-rich foods potentially blunting NO₂⁻ generation. Acute BRJ ingestion consistently elevates circulating nitrate and nitrite, yet its impact on glucose, insulin, and lipid regulation is modest; chronic intake may reinforce nitrate-reduction capacity, improve redox balance, and shift microbial composition, though long-term metabolic outcomes remain variable. Cardiovascular adaptations appear more coherent, with acute reductions in systolic blood pressure and improved endothelial function complemented in some cases by microvascular enhancements during multi-week supplementation. Neuromuscular and cognitive effects are less uniform; BRJ does not reliably increase maximal strength or global cognition but may support electrophysiological recovery after muscle-damaging exercise and improve executive performance under fatigue. In exercise settings, dose and timing are critical, as BRJ most consistently benefits endurance performance by reducing oxygen cost, improving exercise economy, and enhancing time-trial or time-to-exhaustion outcomes, whereas effects on sprint, power, and team-sport tasks are more sensitive to contraction duration, recovery intervals, and athlete training status. Overall, available evidence supports a role for NO-mediated vascular and metabolic pathways in the physiological effects of BRJ, although marked inter-individual variability highlights the need for responder-focused dosing strategies and further mechanistic investigation integrating metabolic, microbial, and performance-related outcomes. Full article