Search Results (1,349)

Background/Objectives: Short-term functional outcomes after outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation are heterogeneous. We examined whether a study-derived cardio-nutrition-inflammation-oxygen (CNIO) index integrating echocardiographic filling pressure, nutritional status, inflammation, and oxygen requirement was associated with 3-month functional outcomes in chronic respiratory disease. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 60 adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, or bronchiectasis who completed outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation and had baseline and 3-month functional assessments. The CNIO index was calculated as standardized E/e′ plus standardized ln(neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) plus standardized resting oxygen flow rate minus standardized Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, and the summed score was then standardized to mean 0 and SD 1. The primary outcome was 3-month 6 min walk test (6MWT) distance, and the exploratory secondary outcome was 3-month Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. The primary 6MWT analysis used multivariable analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline 6MWT, age, sex, body mass index, and diagnosis, whereas the exploratory SPPB analysis used ordinal logistic regression adjusted for baseline SPPB and the same covariates. Results: Mean 6MWT increased from 340.3 ± 61.0 m to 368.0 ± 102.0 m, corresponding to a mean change of 27.7 ± 90.3 m. Each 1-SD increase in CNIO was associated with a lower 3-month 6MWT distance (β = −43.42 m; 95% confidence interval [CI], −77.55 to −9.30; p = 0.014). In the exploratory ordinal logistic regression model for SPPB, each 1-SD increase in CNIO was associated with lower odds of being in a higher 3-month SPPB category, although the estimate was fragile and the confidence interval was close to the null (odds ratio = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.99; p = 0.048). Bootstrap internal stability analysis for the primary 6MWT model showed a wide percentile bootstrap 95% CI of −76.05 to −13.97 m per 1-SD increase in CNIO, supporting the need for cautious interpretation. Conclusions: In this hypothesis-generating derivation study, a higher standardized CNIO index was associated with lower 3-month 6MWT distance among adults with chronic respiratory disease who completed outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. The association with SPPB was weaker and should be interpreted cautiously. These findings are not generalizable to patients who discontinue rehabilitation or are hospitalized for exacerbation during follow-up, and prospective external validation in larger, diagnostically stratified cohorts is required before CNIO can be considered for clinical risk stratification or rehabilitation planning. Full article

Using solid wastes to fabricate sustainable backfill materials for mining engineering is crucial for environmental sustainability worldwide. In this study, the use of coal gangue aggregates as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregates in geopolymer gel backfill materials was explored, which contributes to green mining development. Through uniaxial compression tests, the effects of fine gangue content, mass concentration, and the binder content of geopolymer backfill materials on the compressive behavior of coal gangue geopolymer gel backfill–rock combinations (CGBRC) were systematically evaluated. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques were employed to reveal the strain field evolution and damage progression of CGBRC. Results show that as the content of fine coal gangue increases, the compressive strength first increases and then decreases. Compared with the compressive strength at a 20% content, the compressive strength at a 40% content increased by 33.2%, while the elastic modulus increased by 11.2%. Meanwhile, with the increase in mass concentration and binder content, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of coal gangue geopolymer filling materials show an increasing trend, reaching peak values at 86% mass concentration and 32% binder content, respectively. The strain concentration zones mainly form near the backfill interface, with propagation paths governed by backfill strength. Damage evolution undergoes three stages including rapid accumulation during compaction, gradual development in the elastic-plastic stage, and abrupt acceleration at failure. The interfacial debonding behavior is primarily influenced by the strength difference between the backfill and surrounding rock. Specimen failure is dominated by brittle shear fracture, categorized into three modes based on crack paths relative to the backfill, which include penetrating backfill failure, axisymmetric interface failure, and centrally symmetric interface failure. These findings offer theoretical and technical support for coal gangue resource utilization and green mining practices, advancing sustainable solid waste management. Full article

Laboratory-based certification cycles systematically underestimate real-world fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. On-board diagnostics (OBD-II) telemetry offers a low-cost alternative, yet most published approaches rely on mass air flow (MAF) sensors absent from many modern vehicles. This study validates a speed-density air-mass estimation method on a naturally aspirated RON 95 gasoline passenger car (1368 cm³, Euro 6) across seven drive cycles recorded over three measurement days in northwestern Türkiye, covering 609.6 km of highway, urban, and mixed conditions. Instantaneous air mass flow was estimated from four standard OBD-II PIDs—manifold absolute pressure, engine speed, intake air temperature, and fuel trim corrections—using the ideal gas law applied to actual engine displacement. Results were validated against pump-measured fill-up volumes. The speed-density model achieved errors of −3.6% to +4.3% across individual segments (combined error: −0.5%), outperforming the vehicle’s onboard trip computer, which exhibited errors of −10.6% to +14.6%. Derived CO₂ intensities ranged from 125.0 to 166.4 g/km, with a combined average of 147.2 g/km (pump reference: 147.9 g/km). Urban driving produced approximately 15% higher specific emissions than highway driving. These results demonstrate that a physics-based speed-density model can achieve within ±5% trip-level accuracy across diverse real-world conditions without machine learning, bespoke calibration, or a physical MAF sensor. Full article

Background and Objectives: Numerous risk factors for both female and male fertility have been established including age, ovarian reserve, infertility cause, occupational and lifestyle factors. The objective of our study was to determine the influence of occupational and lifestyle factors on assisted reproduction (ART) outcomes at a Serbian referral tertiary center. Materials and Methods: The study included all consecutive infertile couples undergoing ART at the Clinic for Ob/Gyn University Clinical Center Belgrade, from January 2019 to January 2022. Inclusion criteria comprised primary and unexplained infertility, age ≤ 45 years, body mass index ≤ 30 kg/m² and undergoing fresh autologous ART cycles. All patients filled in the socio-epidemiological questionnaire that analyzed their lifestyle and habits. Medical history data and data regarding the current ART cycle were taken from patient records. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy. Results: Our study included 501 couples (women and men) with infertility undergoing ART. Clinical pregnancy was achieved in 22.2% of examined patients. Achieving clinical pregnancy in the ART cycle for women was associated with younger age and use of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, whereas younger age and absence of chronic illnesses were the most important factors for male partners. When women and men were assessed together as couples, achieving clinical pregnancy correlated only with the use of vitamins, minerals and trace-elements by both partners. Conclusions: This study confirmed that some occupational and lifestyle factors were associated with clinical pregnancy after ART in patients with unexplained primary infertility and normal BMI. Full article

To meet the requirements of forest fire prevention, a water glass-based composite gel foam was developed by introducing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and nanosilica sol into a sodium silicate/sodium bicarbonate matrix. The resulting water glass/HPMC/silica sol ternary system (SGF-HPMC-SOL) was designed to improve water retention, foam stability, substrate adhesion, and fire-barrier durability. The results indicate that HPMC and silica sol contributed to network reinforcement through hydrogen bonding, polymer-chain entanglement, nanoscale filling, and possible interfacial condensation. The optimized SGF-HPMC-SOL retained 20.4% of its initial mass after heating at 100 °C for 5 h, compared with 4.65% for SGF and 9.54% for SGF-HPMC; reached a carbonization time of 164 s under direct-flame exposure, versus 100 s for SGF and 137 s for SGF-HPMC; and maintained a residual mass of 76% at 800 °C in TGA, compared with 58.3% for SGF and 55.1% for SGF-HPMC. These improvements were associated with the formation of a denser silica-rich protective layer after combustion, which delayed heat transfer to the wood substrate. Under the adopted direct-flame screening conditions, SGF-HPMC-SOL exhibited enhanced flame-retardant performance compared with the reference gel foams, indicating its potential for enhanced flame-retardant performance under laboratory screening conditions for forest fire prevention. Full article

Due to the tendency of backfill slurry to stagnate within pipelines during transportation, a time-dependent rheological model for basalt fiber-reinforced gangue cemented slurry was developed based on the H-B rheological model and flocculation structure theory to ensure unimpeded slurry flow within pipelines over specified time periods. Experiments were conducted to investigate the time-dependent yield stress evolution of 9 mm fiber-reinforced gangue cemented slurry over time under varying conditions, specifically examining the effects of adding 9 mm fiber-reinforced (accounting for 0.5% of the total mass of the slurry) gangue cemented slurry under varying conditions. Significant effects of mass concentration, sucrose admixture content, and fly ash concentration on the yield stress of the slurry under different standing times were investigated. Research findings indicate that the yield stress of the paste increases with rising mass concentration and also rises with extended standing time. For slurries with mass concentrations ranging from 76% to 82%, the yield stress after 120 min of standing increased by 81.03%, 80%, 82%, and 97.48%, respectively, compared to freshly mixed slurries. The yield stress decreases with increasing sucrose dosage. Below 0.5% sucrose dosage, the rate of yield stress increase with standing time is relatively slow; above 0.5%, the rate increases more rapidly. After 120 min of standing, the yield stress of slurries with a sucrose dosage ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% increased by 48.66%, 54.42%, 32.90%, and 33.70%, respectively, compared to freshly mixed slurry. Yield stress decreased with increasing fly ash content and exhibited an overall steady upward trend with standing time. Based on the fitting surfaces depicting the variation in yield stress in filling materials over time under different influencing factors, fitting expressions were derived. Analysis of variance revealed that the time-dependent behavior of filling materials is primarily influenced by mass concentration, followed by retarder dosage and fly ash proportion. Full article

Background: Cardiotoxicity remains a major concern in breast cancer management, with implications for prognosis and quality of life. Natural compounds have shown chemopreventive potential while preserving cardiac safety. This study evaluated the cardiac effects of a Santolina chamaecyparissus aqueous extract (SCE), characterized by high levels of 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and myricetin-O-glucuronide, in female Wistar rats subjected to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary carcinogenesis. Methods: Twenty-eight animals were assigned to four groups (n = 7/group): control (CTRL), MNU-induced (IND), SCE-supplemented (SCE), and MNU-induced SCE-supplemented (SCE+IND). SCE was administered in water (120 µg/mL) for 20 weeks, and MNU was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg) at 50 days of age. At the end of the experiment, body and heart weights were recorded, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) concentrations assessed, and echocardiography performed to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Results: Final body and relative heart weights did not differ among groups. CK-MB was lower in SCE-supplemented groups compared with CTRL and IND (p < 0.05). IND animals exhibited a hyperdynamic functional profile accompanied by impaired ventricular filling, which was attenuated in SCE+IND animals (p < 0.05). Cardiac structural parameters were largely preserved with SCE, despite an increased left ventricular mass (p < 0.05). Conclusions: SCE did not induce adverse cardiac effects and partially mitigated early carcinogenesis-associated cardiac alterations under the tested conditions, supporting its cardiac safety as a potential phenolic-rich chemopreventive strategy. Full article

This study investigates in situ hydrogel formation and its regulating effect on multiscale damage evolution in red sandstone subjected to chemical–wet–dry cycles. Uniaxial compression, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry tests were performed to characterize mechanical degradation, mineral alteration, pore-network evolution, ion migration, and gel micromorphology. By combining multiscale experimental characterization with a segmented statistical damage constitutive model, this study describes the hydrogel-mediated damage evolution of red sandstone under chemical–wet–dry cycles. The mechanical properties of red sandstone show nonlinear degradation, with a deterioration order of acidic > alkaline > neutral, and this effect intensifies with increasing cycle number. After 15 cycles at pH = 3, the compressive strength and elastic modulus decreased by 38.21% and 27.12%, respectively. Both acidic and alkaline environments promoted pore development in red sandstone. After 15 cycles at pH = 3, the porosity increased from 21.51% to 24.51%, and the most probable pore diameter shifted from 21.32 μm to 25.88 μm. The porosity increased by 2.86% at pH = 11, and in situ hydrogels formed under alkaline conditions partially filled pores and inhibited crack propagation. The developed model effectively reproduced the mechanical evolution of red sandstone, with all fitted results showing R² values no lower than 0.92. These findings provide a basis for evaluating hydrogel-regulated damage in red sandstone and support the application of in situ gel materials in geotechnical engineering. Full article

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has multiple phenotypic manifestations with heterogeneous treatment responses. Objective: To evaluate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) on functional capacity and cardiac remodeling in overweight/obese HFpEF patients with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods: Sixty-one overweight/obese HFpEF patients (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m²) with hypertensive LVH (LV mass index ≥ 115 g/m² for men or ≥94 g/m² for women) were randomized to Sac/Val (100–400 mg a day; n = 30) versus the usual care group (n = 31) for 6 months. Changes in six-minute walk test distance (6MWTD) were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included changes in echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Results: After 6 months of Sac/Val therapy, 6MWTD increased, and E/e′ ratio, LV mass index, LA volume index, and NT-proBNP levels decreased compared with the usual care group (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: In overweight/obese patients with HFpEF and LVH, Sac/Val significantly improved functional capacity and reduced LV mass and filling pressure compared with standard medical therapy. Full article

The high-temperature operating requirements and the issues in the packaging process of wide-bandgap power semiconductors have positioned pressureless sinter-bonding using Ag nanoparticle paste as the most promising die-attach technology. However, under pressureless conditions, where externally applied pressure-driven particle rearrangement is absent, achieving sufficient densification and suppressing residual porosity during short-duration annealing at 250 °C remain significant challenges for conventional single-composition Ag pastes. In this study, a hybrid filler paste composed of Ag nanoparticles and a Ag complex solution was developed to implement an active mass supply strategy, in which additional Ag atoms were directly introduced into interparticle voids through in situ reduction during sinter-bonding. Mono-dispersed Ag nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 75.26 nm were synthesized via H₂O₂-mediated wet-chemical reduction, and the Ag complex solution was prepared using a Ag salt–complexing agent–formic acid system dispersed in an ethylene glycol medium. TG-DTA analysis of the hybrid paste revealed four sequential thermal stages, consisting of solvent evaporation, Ag ion reduction, organic decomposition, and interparticle sintering, accompanied by approximately 16 wt% out-gassing. Based on these results, a three-step temperature profile was designed to initiate sintering after complete out-gassing. When chip/paste/substrate assemblies, pre-dried at 50 °C for 90 s and pre-compressed at 5 MPa for 60 s, were subjected to the three-step profile with a peak temperature of 250 °C, the in situ reduced Ag effectively bridged adjacent nanoparticles and filled fine interparticle voids, leading to pronounced densification of the bond line. As a result, the hybrid paste achieved an average shear strength of 19.1 MPa, exceeding the minimum requirement for sinter-bonding applications. These findings demonstrate that the proposed hybrid filler approach provides an effective pathway for enhancing pressureless Ag sinter-bonding performance. Full article

As the power density of office computing clusters rises to 200–250 W per chip, the substantial heat generated during operation not only impairs chip performance and shortens lifespan but also compels heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to operate at high loads. This increases energy consumption by 30–40% and causes indoor temperature fluctuations that reduce office workers’ comfort. Targeting centralized thermal management for such clusters, this study proposes a hybrid cooling strategy integrating outdoor natural cold air (as a continuous heat sink) with phase change materials (PCMs, for transient heat peak absorption). Six adjustable heating plates (power range: 50–250 W per unit, simulating 7 nm office chips) mimicked heat dissipation in a six-chip cluster. Latent heat storage (LHS) units served as passive cooling, with fan coils as auxiliary for natural/forced convection. By using PCMs (melting point: 48 °C) to absorb transient peaks and coils to utilize outdoor cold air, the system maintained circulating water at approximately 60 °C (steady-state equilibrium temperature under full-load conditions) and kept chip temperatures below 80 °C (industrial safety threshold). The hybrid system reduced combined pump and fan power to 125 W, achieving 75% energy savings compared to the HVAC system (500 W) and 40% savings compared to using only natural cold air (210 W pump and fan power). Positive pressure in the outdoor unit (increasing coil air velocity by 1.2 m/s relative to natural convection) further improved heat dissipation efficiency by 15%. Finally, this study quantifies the influence of PCM thermal conductivity and filling mass on the system’s temperature control performance through numerical simulations, providing direct evidence for parameter design of LHS units. Full article

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma (PPAS) is a mesenchymal tumor originating from the pulmonary artery, accounting for approximately 0.001–0.003% of all sarcomas. The early clinical symptoms are atypical, and diagnosis is often delayed, making the management of this disease challenging. The widespread availability of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT), and high-resolution echocardiography has significantly improved the diagnostic capability for PPAS. We herein report a 74-year-old female patient who presented with a 3-week history of exertional dyspnea without an apparent trigger. She had received anti-inflammatory therapy at another hospital for one week. Five days before admission, she experienced right-sided chest pain without apparent cause, which was respiratory-related. On the day of admission, laboratory tests revealed a slight elevation in D-dimer levels. Echocardiography showed an irregular, moderately echogenic mass at the origin of the right pulmonary artery. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a filling defect in the right pulmonary artery accompanied by bilateral pleural effusion. The patient was given heparin anticoagulation therapy. To confirm the nature of these lesions, a PET/CT scan was conducted five days after admission, which indicated hypermetabolism in the right pulmonary artery, suggesting primary pulmonary artery sarcoma. Due to the poor efficacy of anticoagulation therapy, the patient continued to experience breath-holding after physical activity. Subsequently, catheter-guided interventional angiography was carried out for pulmonary artery thrombectomy and biopsy, and histopathological examination revealed pulmonary artery sarcoma. Given the patient’s respiratory failure and heart failure, as well as the uncertain efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, interventional pulmonary artery thrombectomy alleviated the chest pain. Currently, the patient’s overall condition is stable. Full article

Firefighting and urban search operations occur in hazardous, rapidly changing environments where timely situational awareness is critical. In indoor firefighting scenarios, responders often operate in smoke-filled and structurally complex environments with limited visibility and communication. While UAVs have been widely used in wildfire response, their deployment inside buildings remains limited due to constraints in system mass, cost, and operational complexity. This paper presents the design and preliminary validation of an attritable micro-UAV as a proof-of-concept platform for indoor search support and post-fire inspection and assessment. The platform emphasizes portability, durability, and multi-sensor integration, enabling deployment by minimally trained personnel. System requirements were derived in collaboration with the Southfield Fire Department. The finalized design achieved a total mass of 247.34 g at a cost of $2969. Experimental evaluation demonstrated reliable sensing and communication performance at the subsystem level and confirmed structural robustness through drop tests from heights up to 3 m. Endurance testing yielded a maximum flight time of 28 min, slightly below the targeted 30 min requirement. While full task-level validation in operational firefighting scenarios has not been conducted, the proposed platform establishes a foundation for future development, including system-level validation, post-fire structural assessment, and enhanced visualization interfaces for improved situational awareness in emergency response operations. Full article

Aim: We aimed to provide a structured ex vivo protocol for cardiopulmonary micro-CT that combines gelatin–barium sulfate (gelatin–BaSO₄) contrast medium with agar embedding in neonatal canine cardiopulmonary specimens. Materials and Methods: Heart–lung specimens from 23 puppies that died shortly after birth were collected, stored at −20 °C, and then slowly thawed prior to imaging. Before perfusion, body mass and heart–lung complex mass were recorded. Body mass ranged from 140 to 951 g, and heart–lung complex mass ranged from 1.2 to 51.2 g. The cranial and caudal venae cavae, the brachiocephalic trunk, and the left subclavian artery were ligated. A catheter was introduced into the thoracic aorta. Contrast was prepared by dissolving porcine gelatin in hot water and mixing with a commercial BaSO₄ suspension. The mixture was maintained at a warm temperature to remain free-flowing and was delivered at low pressure until uniform opacification of the coronary and pulmonary arteries was observed. After in situ gelation, the organs were embedded in warm agar and sealed to limit motion and dehydration. Scans were performed on a benchtop system (120 kV, ~83 µA, ~1200 projections, ~2 s exposures; voxel ~40 µm). Reconstruction was performed in XMReconstructor, with post-processing in Falcon and RadiAnt. The reconstructed micro-CT datasets were reviewed anatomically by a medical cardiologist and a veterinary cardiologist, whereas vascular filling was evaluated semi-quantitatively by three observers with expertise in veterinary anatomy and cardiology. Results: In all specimens examined, the main coronary artery course was assessable. Conclusions: The gelatin–BaSO₄ contrast medium combined with agar immobilization provides a simple, lead-free, and affordable approach for structured cardiopulmonary micro-CT in very small post-mortem specimens. In the examined specimens, the workflow provided visually consistent low-pressure vascular opacification without gross evidence of vessel rupture or motion-related acquisition failure under the conditions of this study. Practical mitigations included temperature/viscosity control, avoidance of phosphate buffers, container sealing, and minimization of particle aggregation, bubbles, and dehydration. The protocol may complement conventional autopsy in very small post-mortem specimens in similar ex vivo research settings. Full article

To promote the high-value utilization of industrial solid wastes and address the disposal of excavated soils, a novel low-carbon composite cementitious material, solid waste-based geopolymer cement (SGPC), was developed, consisting of soda residue (SR), granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), phosphogypsum (PG), and ordinary Portland cement (PC) in a mass ratio of 10:81:9:25, with industrial solid wastes accounting for 80% of the binder. The effects of water-to-solid ratio (W/S = 0.41–0.49) on the workability, mechanical performance, and microstructural evolution of SGPC-stabilized soil were systematically investigated to provide a sustainable alternative to conventional cement-based stabilizers. The results indicate that the optimum water-to-solid ratio is 0.43 (SGPC43), with a 28-day unconfined compressive strength of 1450 kPa, exceeding the engineering requirement of 0.8 MPa and reaching over 85% of that of a pure cement system (C43). The flowability remained 163 mm after 60 min, with initial and final setting times of 43 h and 58 h, respectively. Microstructural analysis revealed that the alkalinity provided by soda residue promotes the hydration of slag and phosphogypsum, forming interwoven calcium (alumino) silicate hydrate (C–(A)–S–H) and ettringite (AFt), which fill pores and form a dense structure, thereby enhancing mechanical performance. Environmental and economic assessments show that the CO₂ emission of SGPC43 per ton of binder decreases from 930 kg CO₂-e/t to 235 kg CO₂-e/t (approximately 74.7% reduction), while the material cost decreases from 110 USD/t to 53 USD/t (approximately 51.8% reduction). A simplified uncertainty analysis indicates that the carbon reduction remains at 70% ± 5% and the cost reduction at 50% ± 5%, confirming the robustness of the results. Overall, SGPC43 demonstrates excellent engineering performance, environmental benefits, and economic feasibility, highlighting its potential as a low-carbon and sustainable stabilizing material. Full article