Search Results (58,605)

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the transition of physiotherapy programmes from traditional face-to-face anatomy teaching to fully online delivery. Studies conducted during this period have documented students’ positive adaptation to online anatomy learning, highlighting benefits such as increased flexibility and reduced stress, while also noting challenges, including diminished practical exposure. Although much of the existing research centres on medical and dental education, there is a relative paucity of studies examining physiotherapy students’ perspectives. In this study, a purposive sample of 53 entry-level physiotherapy students (Years 1–3) completed a questionnaire evaluating their experiences with anatomy education during the pandemic. Responses were compared between groups (Years 1 and 2 versus Year 3) using the Mann–Whitney U test and effect-size calculations. Year 3 students who experienced both face-to-face and online learning preferred practical sessions with silent mentors in the anatomy hall, citing greater active engagement and deeper learning. Conversely, all year groups reported that online assessments, such as the online Objective Structured Practical Examination, were less stressful than traditional formats. Year 1 and 2 students, lacking prior face-to-face practical experience, expressed neutral views regarding online practical components. Overall, while online theory and assessment components were well received, hands-on practical experience remains highly valued for promoting student engagement. These findings support the development of blended anatomy pedagogy that leverages the strengths of both modalities to enhance resilience and adaptability in the face of future educational disruptions. Full article

Treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) remains a challenge in clinical practice because the current treatment approaches produce satisfactory pain alleviation in only 30% of patients. This necessitates developing novel drugs or repurposing existing medications intended to manage other diseases. When the repurposing intendance is chosen, similarity in the pharmacological properties should be hosted by the candidate drugs. Herein, this review sheds light on the mechanisms of certain centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (CMRs), specifically tolperisone. So far, data indicate that tolperisone displays voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocking properties with modulatory effect on voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). These properties have led to recent preclinical research initiatives testing tolperisone in NP, resulting in positive outcomes. Furthermore, the review highlights the currently available VGSC blockers and proposes a strategy based on combining them with VGCC blockers that have been proven for the treatment of NP. This proposal is supported by the fact that tolperisone, in combination with pregabalin, has recently been shown to acutely halt NP. Full article

Probiotics hold great potential in aquaculture, as they can effectively modulate gut microbiota and improve fish health, thereby enhancing farming efficiency. Translating this potential into practical application critically relies on screening high-efficacy probiotic strains. This study evaluated the growth-promoting and health-enhancing effects of probiotic candidates Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Lactobacillus plantarum FZU310 (LP-FZU310) and Bacillus subtilis FZU103 (BS-FZU103) in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). After feeding different probiotics for 30 days, the growth, antioxidant, and intestinal enzyme indicators of M. salmoides were detected. BS-FZU103 demonstrated superior efficacy among the tested strains, showing significant differences in both specific growth rate (SGR) (p < 0.05) and condition factor (CF) (p < 0.05). It also markedly enhanced hepatic antioxidant status, elevating superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while reducing malondialdehyde levels by 80%. Improved liver integrity was indicated by significant decreases in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. Digestively, BS-FZU103 specifically increased intestinal amylase activity by 14.7%, without affecting protease or lipase, suggesting enhanced carbohydrate digestion. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed BS-FZU103 remodeled gut microbiota, increasing Proteobacteria abundance at the phylum level and enriching Bacillus while reducing Clostridium sensu stricto 1 at the genus level. Functional prediction based on PICRUSt2 indicated an enhanced metabolic potential of the gut microbiota, with inferred upregulation of pathways related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism (e.g., ABC transporters) and intestinal enzymatic activities. Collectively, BS-FZU103 is associated with metabolic modulation, promoting M. salmoides growth through gut microbiota remodeling, hepatic antioxidant fortification, and targeted augmentation of carbohydrate utilization efficiency. Full article

Urban flooding has become a critical environmental challenge under global climate change and rapid urbanization. This study develops a multi-indicator hazard mechanism framework for flood hazard assessment in Rizhao, a coastal city in China, by integrating three fundamental hydrological processes: runoff generation, flow convergence, and drainage. Based on geospatial data—including DEM, road networks, land cover, and soil characteristics—six key indicators were evaluated using the TOPSIS method: runoff curve number, impervious surface percentage, topographic wetness index, time of concentration, pipeline density, and distance to rivers. The results show that extreme-hazard zones, covering 6.41% of the central urban area, are primarily clustered in northern sectors, where flood susceptibility is driven by the synergistic effects of high imperviousness, short concentration time, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Independent validation using historical flood records confirmed the model’s reliability, with 83.72% of documented waterlogging points located in predicted high-hazard zones and an AUC value of 0.737 indicating good discriminatory performance. Based on spatial hazard patterns and causal mechanisms, an integrated mitigation strategy system of “source reduction, process regulation, and terminal enhancement” is proposed. This strategy provides practical guidance for pipeline rehabilitation and sponge city implementation in Rizhao’s resilience planning, while the developed hazard mechanism framework of “runoff–convergence–drainage” provides a transferable methodology for flood hazard assessment in large-scale urban environments. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming higher education, evolving from simple personalization tools into a wide range of applications that support teaching, learning, and assessment. This study examines how university instructors in Lebanon perceive and adopt AI in their academic practices, drawing on evidence from two private institutions: Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU) and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK). The study also proposes practical directions for effective institutional implementation. Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, data were collected from 133 faculty members. Although 73.7% of participants reported moderate to high familiarity with AI, their actual classroom use of such tools remained limited. Adoption was primarily centered on chatbots (69.2%) and translation tools (54.9%), while more advanced technologies, such as adaptive learning systems and AI-based tutoring platforms, were seldom utilized (under 7%). Additionally, participants identified efficiency (69.2%), increased student engagement (44.4%), and personalized learning opportunities (42.9%) as the main benefits of AI integration. In contrast, they reported insufficient training (46.6%), restricted access to resources (45.9%), and concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated outputs (29.3%) as major barriers. Moreover, statistical analysis indicated a strong positive relationship between familiarity with AI and frequency of adoption, with no significant differences across gender, age, or academic qualifications. Overall, the results suggest that faculty members in Lebanese higher education currently view AI primarily as a helpful tool for improving efficiency rather than as a transformative pedagogical innovation. To advance integration, higher education institutions should prioritize targeted professional development, ensure equitable access to AI tools, and establish transparent ethical and governance frameworks. Full article

Background: Recently, compounds such as pyrimidine, pyridazine, 1,2,4-triazepine, 1,3,4,6-oxatriazepine, pyridazino[1,2-a]pyrimidine, and pyridazino[1,2-c] pyrimidine, as well as their derivatives, have attracted attention due to their diverse biological activities. Objective: This study focuses on the synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds that feature a seven-membered ring, including pyridazinopyrimido[2,1-c] [1,2,4]triazepine-tetraones (4), pyridazinopyrimidotriazepine-triones (5–8), aminopyri-dazinopyrimido[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazepine-tetraone (9), and 6-amino-8-imino-pyridazino pyrimido[2,1-c] [1,2,4]triazepine-trione (10). These new compounds were synthesized starting from 1-(4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyrimidine)-1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione (3) and were then evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Methods: A new series of pyridazino[1,2-a]pyrimido[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazepines and 1,3,4,6-oxatriazepines were synthesized using modern techniques and advanced technology, achieving yields between 72% and 90%. Results: All new compounds were confirmed through IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectroscopy (MS) and tested for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Compounds (8-10) exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity. Computational analysis provided a comprehensive evaluation of the broad-spectrum inhibitory potential of four lead compounds (6, 8, 9, and 10) against key microbial and fungal targets. These compounds demonstrated consistently superior binding affinities compared to control drugs cefotaxime and nystatin across a range of enzymes essential for pathogen viability and virulence. Conclusions: The structure–activity relationship (SAR) study established a correlation between the tested compounds and their antimicrobial activity. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the in silico results strongly suggest that compounds (6, 8, 9, and 10) are promising multi-target agents capable of disrupting essential bacterial processes and critical fungal pathways, making them excellent candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. These consistent findings support the conclusion that both practical and theoretical studies of the new compounds align with their antimicrobial effectiveness. Full article

Machine learning (ML) algorithms are widely applied across various fields due to their ability to extract high-level features from large training datasets. However, their use in geochemical prospecting and mineral exploration remains limited because mineralization—a rare geological event—often results in insufficient training samples for supervised ML. Generating adequate training data is thus essential for applying supervised ML in this domain. In this study, we augmented training samples by utilizing adjacent samples centered around known mineral deposits and then employed random forest (RF) modeling to identify multivariate geochemical anomalies associated with mineralization. To evaluate the robustness of data augmentation and gain insights into the geochemical survey data, we applied interpretable ML techniques—feature importance and partial dependence plots (PDPs)—to clarify the data processing within mineral prospectivity mapping. The proposed methodology was tested in the Pangxidong Area, South China. The identified geochemical anomalies show strong spatial correlation with known mineral deposits, while feature importance rankings and PDPs validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. This practice enhances the applicability of supervised ML in geochemical prospecting and mineral exploration as well as the application of interpretable techniques for understanding data processing of multi-geoinformation. Full article

Dental composites are widely used in restorative dentistry; however, their long-term clinical performance is strongly influenced by mechanical and tribological behavior under oral conditions. Understanding the relationship between material structure, surface characteristics, and functional properties is therefore essential. This preliminary methodological study evaluated the mechanical, tribological, and wetting properties of three light-cured dental composites—Enamel Plus HRi, Amaris, and Estelite Asteria—commonly used in clinical practice. The materials were characterized in terms of surface morphology, hardness, Young’s modulus, coefficient of friction, and wear resistance under controlled laboratory conditions. Instrumental indentation and tribological tests were performed, and results were expressed as mean values with standard deviations calculated from multiple measurements. The results demonstrated that filler composition and surface topography affected material performance. Estelite Asteria exhibited the highest hardness (HIT > 300 MPa), while Enamel Plus HRi showed the highest Young’s modulus (EIT ≈ 14.5 GPa). Materials with more complex surface morphology retained lubricating artificial saliva more effectively, resulting in lower friction coefficients (minimum µ = 0.85), although this did not reduce wear. The highest wear was observed for Estelite Asteria, with a wear scar approximately 62% greater than that of Enamel Plus HRi. These preliminary findings provide a methodological basis for further investigations under more clinically relevant conditions. Full article

Traffic police officers represent a critical occupational group with high vulnerability to vehicular air pollution, a severe environmental health threat in rapidly urbanizing metropolises such as Addis Ababa. This cross-sectional study explored occupational exposure, protective practices, health risks, perceptions, and awareness of air-quality-associated health risks among 120 traffic police officers in Addis Ababa. The officers were mostly male (80%) and married (93.3%), with the majority (62.6%) having served for more than ten years. While vehicle emissions were consistently recognized as the main source of air pollution, critical knowledge gaps were identified, i.e., only 24.2% had received pollution-related training, fewer than half (45.8%) were aware of government policies, and just 9.2% reported collaboration with environmental authorities. Awareness of the Air Quality Index (AQI) was generally low, and regular monitoring of AQI was limited. Self-reported health symptoms were highly prevalent among participants, with cough (75.0%), eye irritation (61.7%), sneezing (58.3%), and runny nose (55.8%) being the most frequently reported. Notably, sneezing, runny nose, eye irritation, and psychological stress showed significant association with perceived pollution levels at the workplace (p < 0.05), while blood pressure, cough, difficulty concentrating, and sleep loss were not significantly associated (p > 0.05). A higher prevalence of symptoms was generally observed in groups experiencing moderate-to-very high levels of pollution. Protective measures were applied inconsistently; while 63.3% of participants reported using masks, their beliefs about the effectiveness of using masks varied. Relocation (60%) and use of face covers/glasses (13.3%) were less commonly practiced. Overall, traffic police officers are exposed to occupational air pollution, which is associated with various health symptoms. These findings highlight the need for enhanced training, clearer communication of policies, stronger institutional engagement, the provision of standardized protective masks, and the promotion of AQI utilization to reduce occupational health risks and safeguard the wellbeing of traffic police officers in Addis Ababa. Full article

Deep and ultra-deep drilling operations commonly encounter fractured and fracture-vuggy formations, where weak wellbore strength and well-developed fracture networks lead to frequent lost circulation, presenting a key challenge to safe and efficient drilling. Existing diagnostic practices mostly rely on drilling fluid loss dynamic models of single fractures or simplified discrete fractures to invert fracture geometry, which cannot capture the spatiotemporal evolution of loss in complex fracture networks, resulting in limited inversion accuracy and a lack of quantitative, fracture-network-based loss-dynamics support for bridge-plugging design. In this study, a geologically realistic wellbore–fracture-network coupled loss dynamic model is constructed to overcome the limitations of single- or simplified-fracture descriptions. Within a unified computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework, solid–liquid two-phase flow and Herschel–Bulkley rheology are incorporated to quantitatively characterise fracture connectivity. This approach reveals how instantaneous and steady losses are controlled by key geometrical factors, thereby providing a computable physical basis for loss-zone inversion and bridge-plugging design. Validation against experiments shows a maximum relative error of 7.26% in pressure and loss rate, indicating that the model can reasonably reproduce actual loss behaviour. Different encounter positions and node types lead to systematic variations in loss intensity and flow partitioning. Compared with a single fracture, a fracture network significantly amplifies loss intensity through branch-induced capacity enhancement, superposition of shortest paths, and shortening of loss paths. In a typical network, the shortest path accounts for only about 20% of the total length, but contributes 40%–55% of the total loss, while extending branch length from 300 mm to 1500 mm reduces the steady loss rate by 40%–60%. Correlation analysis shows that the instantaneous loss rate is mainly controlled by the maximum width and height of fractures connected to the wellbore, whereas the steady loss rate has a correlation coefficient of about 0.7 with minimum width and effective path length, and decreases monotonically with the number of connected fractures under a fixed total width, indicating that the shortest path and bottleneck width are the key geometrical factors governing long-term loss in complex fracture networks. This work refines the understanding of fractured-loss dynamics and proposes the concept of coupling hydraulic deviation codes with deep learning to build a mapping model from mud-logging curves to fracture geometrical parameters, thereby providing support for lost-circulation diagnosis and bridge-plugging optimisation in complex fractured formations. Full article

This research paper is concerned with fibrin glues, used as effective tools to stop bleeding in the case of wounds and surgical interventions. The paper provides data on the various fibrin glues—both currently used in practice and being developed, their sources, mechanisms of action, and properties. Such glues are biocompatible and are characterized by good adhesive and hemostatic properties. These characteristics mean that fibrin glues are currently widely used across a range of surgical applications. Such glues can be used independently or in combination with mechanical techniques, being particularly suitable for difficult-to-access parts of the body. The combined use of fibrin glues with various biologically active substances (BASs)—such as antibiotics and growth factors—and with cell therapy is a promising approach. Such adjuncts enhance the effectiveness of the glues and help to optimize the therapies. This research paper presents the latest data from studies using various experimental models demonstrating the increased efficacy of fibrin glues used in combination with BASs. We also report on the ongoing development of new fibrin glues for long-term use and with optimized formulations. Studies on the interactions of these glues with cells and tissues are supporting the creation of a new generation of fibrin glues with adjustable properties. Full article

3D concrete printing (3DCP) is an emerging intelligent construction technology that enables the direct transformation of digital models into physical components, thereby facilitating the precise fabrication of complex geometries. This study investigates the anisotropic mechanical properties and construction applicability of low-carbon 3D printed concrete for reusable formwork systems. Axial compression, flexural, and splitting tensile tests were conducted to examine mechanical anisotropy, and the effects of steel slag and iron tailings replacement levels on mechanical performance were evaluated. Carbon emission analysis was also performed. Using the coefficient-of-variation TOPSIS method, an optimal printable low-carbon mixture was identified, comprising 30% steel slag, 40% iron tailings sand, and 0.3% fibre content, balancing both mechanical performance and environmental benefits. To address the challenges associated with printing large monolithic formwork units, such as excessive weight and demoulding difficulties, three connection strategies for curved wall modular reusable formwork were designed. Finite element analyses were conducted to assess the strength and stiffness of each strategy, and an optimized connection configuration was proposed. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of accurately fabricating complex architectural components using low-carbon 3D printed concrete, providing theoretical and practical support for the industrialized production of large-scale, geometrically complex structures. Full article

Equipped with one degree of freedom in one-dimensional translation of the base, a mobile dual-arm robot (MDAR) is proposed in this paper, and the two arms and the base move simultaneously. As a result, the motion of the base has a significant influence on the motion of both end-effectors at the same time, and the relative positions of the two end-effectors change all the time. Therefore, this paper focuses on the main issues related to the presented MDAR in two key areas: the relative dynamics and relative force/position hybrid control. First, based on the D-H parametric method, the relative kinematics of the proposed MDAR is established, and the relative Jacobian matrix of the robot is derived. Secondly, the dynamic model of the proposed MDAR is constructed using the Lagrangian method. Furthermore, a closed-loop control strategy for relative force/position hybrid control of the MDAR based on the relative dynamics is proposed to enable the two end-effectors of the MDAR to track the planned trajectory accurately. Finally, a simulation is carried out on a dual-arm cutting robot (DACR) for a coal mine to prove the effectiveness of the proposed relative dynamics and the proposed relative force/position hybrid control law in terms of the absolute error (AE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The results show that the proposed relative dynamic model and relative force/position hybrid control can significantly reduce error of the DACR, effectively improve the adaptability and operation accuracy of the system to complex environment, and verify the feasibility and superiority of the method in practical application. Full article

A comprehensive assessment of photovoltaic (PV) enhancement technologies requires a metric that incorporates not only performance gains but also economic viability and system compatibility. This paper introduces the Lifespan-, Surface-area-, and Cost-Adjusted Effectiveness factor (F_LSCAE), a novel multi-dimensional indicator designed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of PV enhancers—such as passive and active coolers—by jointly accounting for lifespan alignment, spatial integration, and cost-to-performance trade-offs. Unlike conventional performance metrics, F_LSCAE captures the interdependence between technical and economic parameters by integrating the enhancer’s contribution to net power output, its operational lifespan relative to the PV module, its physical area relative to the PV surface, and the manufacturing cost in relation to the cost per watt of PV power. A series of analytical case studies were conducted involving four PV cooler patterns with varying power outputs, costs, sizes, and lifespans. The findings demonstrate that F_LSCAE is highly sensitive to power enhancement and cost fluctuations, and it penalizes oversizing or lifespan mismatches. Furthermore, the minimum threshold effectiveness (F_LSCAE,min), derived from the ratio of actual to maximum PV output under standard test conditions, provides a robust baseline for determining system viability. The proposed metric proves to be a reliable and scalable tool for the comparative evaluation of PV enhancement strategies. It enables stakeholders to make informed decisions about design optimization, financial planning, and policy formulation. F_LSCAE serves as a critical advancement in PV performance analysis, offering a unified framework to assess not only energy gain but also the practicality and sustainability of PV enhancement technologies. Full article

A stripline-type circulator is essential for the initial low-power characterization of vacuum electron devices such as magnetrons, enabling accurate measurements of startup behavior, oscillation frequency, and mode structure while minimizing reflections and protecting diagnostic equipment. In this study, two broadband S-band stripline circulator prototypes operating in the 2–4 GHz and 3–4 GHz bands were designed, fabricated, and experimentally characterized. A unified design methodology was implemented by using the same ferrite material and coupling angle in both structures, providing procurement simplicity, cost reduction, and technological standardization. This approach also enabled a direct assessment of how bandwidth variations influence circulator behavior. The design goals targeted a transmission efficiency above 90%, isolation exceeding 15 dB, and a voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.2:1. Experimental evaluations, including magnetic field mapping, low-power S-parameter measurements, and high-power tests, confirmed that both prototypes satisfy these specifications, consistently achieving at least 90% transmission across their respective operating bands. Additionally, a comparative analysis between a locally fabricated ferrite and a commercial ferrite sample was conducted, revealing the influence of material properties on transmission stability and high-power behavior. The results demonstrate that broadband stripline circulators employing a common ferrite material can be adapted to different S-band applications, offering a practical, cost-effective, and reliable solution for RF systems. Full article