Search Results (177)

Macroscopic and microscopic aggregation patterns of reconstituted poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) products may vary with product formulation, diluent, preparation protocol, and time. This descriptive in vitro pilot study compared two commercial formulations, StiCol Volume (150 mg PLLA reconstituted to 9 mL) and StiCol Soft (50 mg PLLA reconstituted to 6 mL), under 11 diluent conditions and 2 composite preparation protocols: roller mixing for 30 min and manual shaking for 3 min followed by 3 h of hydration. One preparation was evaluated for each formulation–diluent–protocol combination. Gross appearance was documented immediately and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min and 24 h; microscopy was performed at ×40 and ×100 from 15 min onward. Two evaluators applied an ordinal visual aggregation scale, and the findings were analyzed descriptively. In the observed preparations, the StiCol Soft formulation generally showed lower aggregation grades than StiCol Volume; however, the products differed in nominal PLLA concentration, particle size, and excipient composition, so this pattern cannot be attributed to concentration alone. SWFI-based conditions tended to show fewer microscopic clusters than NSS-based conditions. The roller/30 min protocol also tended to show lower grades than the manual/3 h protocol, although mixing mode and hydration duration were inseparable. Macroscopic upper-layer accumulation was interpreted as vertical phase separation with creaming/flotation-like behavior rather than sedimentation. These exploratory findings generate hypotheses for replicated studies incorporating standardized sampling, redispersibility, particle size, rheological, and injectability testing; they do not establish an administration window or improved clinical safety. Full article

Gold in the coarse-grained alluvial sediments of the Irgaity placer deposit (Kazakhstan) occurs predominantly as finely dispersed particles associated with mineral matrices, which limits the efficiency of conventional recovery methods. The proposed processing flowsheet demonstrated that thermal pre-treatment is an effective approach for enhancing ultrafine gold recovery, achieving an overall recovery of 86% from the treated concentrate. The Tescan TIMA “Bright Phase Search” workflow, optimized for gold detection by applying a minimum BSE brightness threshold of 75% and an Au phase filter calibrated using a gold standard, successfully identified gold-bearing grains within the analyzed mounts. Further mineralogical investigations revealed that gold particles ≤10 μm occur as native gold and Au-Ag-As-bearing phases, with silver content reaching up to 14 wt.% in some coarser grains. The significant association of silver with gold-bearing particles indicates the potential for incorporating silver recovery into the processing flowsheet, thereby improving the overall economic value of the deposit. Despite the low average gold grade (0.3–0.4 g/t), the large dimensions of the Irgaity placer deposit (approximately 12 km long, 1.5 km wide, and 60–70 m thick) suggest the presence of a substantial large-volume mineral resource. The combination of extensive mineralized sediments and high recovery achieved through thermal activation supports the potential economic viability of the deposit and warrants further evaluation of its development potential. Full article

Feeds rich in protein are the dominant nitrogen input in intensive aquaculture, yet only part of dietary nitrogen is retained as animal biomass; the remainder enters water and sediment through uneaten feed, feces, dissolved wastes, mucus, sloughed tissue, and branchial ammonia excretion. This review aims to integrate nutritional, physiological, microbial, and disease-related evidence into an evidence-graded framework that positions ammonia nitrogen as a reactive node linking feed, host, water, sediment, and pathogen risk. To assemble this evidence, we conducted a structured narrative search of Web of Science and PubMed for records in English or Chinese published from 2006 to July 2026, with no restriction on publication type, and classified evidence as direct, indirect, or conceptual. The strongest evidence shows that dietary protein supply, amino acid balance, digestibility, and feeding regime regulate nitrogen retention and ammonia output, while microbial ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, anammox, and assimilation determine whether reactive nitrogen is regenerated, retained, or removed. Experimental studies further show that ammonia impairs oxidative balance, mucosal barriers, immunity, and disease resistance. In contrast, evidence that pathogen infection quantitatively alters nitrogen retention, ammonia excretion, organic nitrogen release, and sedimentary ammonium regeneration remains limited and largely indirect. Accordingly, ammonia nitrogen is framed as a measurable reactive node rather than a unique source or a universally validated causal loop. Practical management should combine precision nutrition with water, biofloc, sediment, and disease surveillance, while future factorial studies and isotope tracer studies should quantify the complete nitrogen budget under pathogen challenge. Full article

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in people with overweight or obesity is clinically heterogeneous, reflecting mechanical loading, synovial and systemic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, structural severity, and pain-related factors. We evaluated multidomain outcomes after semaglutide initiation and characterized clinically relevant response patterns. Methods: This retrospective, self-controlled cohort included 93 adults treated in routine rheumatology care; 88 completed a six-month follow-up. There was no untreated concurrent comparator; within-patient changes and exposure–outcome associations were therefore interpreted as non-causal. Changes in pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) function, anthropometry, inflammatory markers, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, dose exposure, and safety were evaluated. Joint multivariable models included percentage weight loss and maximum achieved dose. Exploratory K-means phenotyping integrated dose, weight loss, body mass index (BMI) decrease, visual analog scale (VAS) and WOMAC improvement, and C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and HbA1c reductions, with candidate solutions and resampling stability examined. Results: At six months, mean weight decreased by 10.88 kg, VAS pain score by 2.47 points, WOMAC total by 22.50 points, CRP by 2.67 mg/L, ESR by 7.62 mm/h, and HbA1c by 0.51 percentage points (all p < 0.001). Weight loss remained independently associated with WOMAC improvement, while achieved dose retained positive adjusted associations with pain, function, inflammatory, and metabolic changes. Exploratory clustering identified five clinically interpretable patterns along a broader response-intensity gradient, including high-burden multidomain response, high-dose concordant response, dose-modified intermediate response, inflammation-preserved response despite moderate weight loss, and dose-limited graded response. These observational coefficients and clusters cannot distinguish treatment-related effects from residual confounding or co-interventions. Conclusions: Substantial within-patient improvements were observed, but the uncontrolled design precludes causal attribution. The exploratory patterns may be compatible with contributions from baseline disease burden, dose exposure, mechanical unloading, and residual inflammatory variation; they do not establish weight-independent pharmacologic effects or validated patient subtypes. Prospective controlled, multicenter validation is required. Full article

Variable sediment supply and widely graded bed materials modify boulder–bar development, sediment transport and bar evolution in mountain mixed-size reaches. To elucidate the evolution characteristics of bars in boulder-strewn mountain river segments, this study conducted flume experiments. By adjusting parameters including discharge, boulder position, and boulder protrusion height, the paper analyzes bed scour and deposition deformations under various conditions. Results show discharge growth intensifies bed deformation: Both bar area and volume increase with rising discharge, with longer downstream bar extension and a positive correlation between bar length–width ratio and velocity. Higher boulder protrusion height and exposure amplify scour depth, expand bars laterally and reduce scour pit width–depth ratios. Boulders at bar heads migrate furthest downstream; moving boulders toward bar tails increases bar area/volume while bar height peaks then declines. Bar scale follows mid-channel bar head > bar tail > side anabranches. Boulder embedding depth linearly rises with exposure, both parameters positively linked to post-scour bar volume loss. The stable co-evolutionary relationship between scour depth and extent (R² = 0.849) confirms their synchronized development under varying flow and boulder conditions. Boulders limit downstream bar elongation, flat beds boost scour diffusion, and scour pit width–depth ratio positively correlates with flow velocity. This work offers experimental and mechanistic references for mountain river geomorphic prediction. Full article

Natural coagulants have emerged as potential alternatives to synthetic chemicals in water treatment, especially for decentralized and low-resource applications. However, many previously reported Aloe vera-based coagulant preparation methods rely on drying, powder production, distilled water extraction, refrigeration, or other laboratory-dependent procedures that increase operational complexity and limit practical implementation. This study presents a simplified and rapid protocol for producing an Aloe vera-based natural coagulant using accessible materials and simplified preparation steps. The proposed methodology consists of extracting Aloe vera g13el, homogenizing 2 g of fresh gel with 50 mL of tap water using a household blender, and applying simple paper filtration to obtain the liquid coagulant. The protocol can be completed in less than 10 min without specialized laboratory infrastructure, energy-intensive processing, or laboratory-grade reagents. Coagulation performance was evaluated using synthetic turbid water with initial turbidity levels of 100, 200, and 300 NTU. Significant turbidity reduction was observed under all tested conditions, with several samples reaching residual turbidity values close to or equal to 0 NTU after 50–60 min of sedimentation. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed protocol as a rapid, reproducible, and accessible approach for future investigation in point-of-use and decentralized water treatment applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is increasingly recognized as a condition with an inflammatory component. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are associated with disease severity. However, the effects of physical therapy on inflammatory biomarkers remain unclear. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of physical therapy interventions on CRP and ESR in adults with knee OA. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PROSPERO (CRD42024590843), PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 3 November 2024. Randomized controlled trials comparing any physical therapy intervention with a control condition were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven RCTs (n = 523 participants) were included. Pooled analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in CRP (SMD = −1.05; 95% CI: −1.80 to −0.31; p = 0.006); however, substantial heterogeneity was observed (I² = 93%), limiting confidence in the pooled estimate. Certainty of evidence for CRP was rated as moderate. No significant effect was observed for ESR (SMD = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.84 to 0.45; p = 0.56; I² = 63%), with low certainty. Conclusions: Physical therapy may reduce CRP levels in knee OA; however, substantial heterogeneity limits confidence in the precision and generalizability of this effect. These findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered exploratory. Further well-designed RCTs are required. Full article

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly applied to geochemical baseline estimation and anomaly detection in soils and sediments, yet the methodological conditions under which machine learning outperforms traditional approaches—and which preprocessing and validation decisions most consequentially determine that advantage—remain incompletely characterized across environmental and mineral exploration domains. A structured systematic scoping review of 146 records from the Web of Science Core Collection applied sequential filtering to yield 78 thematically eligible studies, from which 20 were prioritized through a composite index integrating age-adjusted citation impact, platform usage, and semantic relevance. Four cross-cutting findings emerge. First, performance gains in environmental applications were driven primarily by spatial model structure rather than algorithm selection: incorporating a spatial covariate derived from geographically weighted regression raised test-set explained variance from $R^2=0.80$ to $R^2=0.96$ for cadmium mobility prediction in a geochemically heterogeneous karst setting, a gain the source study supported with a held-out test set and a Monte Carlo analysis of sensitivity to data size. Second, isometric or centered log-ratio preprocessing was applied in the majority of mineral exploration studies (three of five classical and hybrid studies and four of five deep-learning studies) but in none of the seven environmental studies, representing a systematic methodological gap with direct consequences for covariate importance estimates under compositional closure. Third, Shapley additive explanations and accumulated local effects functioned as instruments of operational value, enabling element-specific anomaly threshold derivation, training sample diagnosis, and grid-cell anomaly type classification; this evidence demonstrates that the accuracy–interpretability trade-off commonly assumed in the machine learning literature is not fundamental in geochemical applications but contingent on algorithm selection. Fourth, 90% of the 20 synthesized studies (18 of 20 by study-area location—13 in China and five in Iran) were evaluated under within-domain validation designs, and the consistently high performance metrics reported should be interpreted as interpolation estimates rather than evidence of transferable predictive capability. Geographic diversification of training datasets and spatially explicit cross-regional validation are identified as structural prerequisites for regulatory-grade applicability. Full article

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by chronic pain, functional limitation, and low-grade inflammation. While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained traction as a biologic therapy, the relationship between short-term clinical outcomes and systemic inflammatory biomarker dynamics remains poorly understood in routine clinical settings. Methods: This prospective observational study evaluated 40 patients with grade 2–3 KOA receiving a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular PRP injection. Clinical outcomes via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36), alongside serum inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-18, TNF-α, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein), were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks post-injection using paired tests and multivariable regression. Results: At 4 weeks, clinical scores improved significantly (all p < 0.001). Circulating IL-8 and TNF-α levels decreased significantly (p = 0.009 and p = 0.014, respectively), whereas IL-1β and IL-18 variations were non-significant. Baseline cytokines did not predict clinical outcomes, but a significant association emerged between ΔIL-18 and ΔWOMAC (p = 0.032). Conclusions: A single intra-articular PRP injection was associated with short-term clinical improvements and selected reductions in circulating IL-8 and TNF-α, although the clinical significance of these biomarker changes remains uncertain. Given the observational design and short follow-up, these preliminary findings require confirmation in larger controlled trials. Full article

Clay, as a sediment material, is an attractive option for the production of porous ceramics due to its low price and high abundance. Porous ceramics possess a combination of essential properties of clay-based materials, including high porosity and thermal and chemical stability, making them suitable for various industrial applications, such as filters, heat insulators, and absorbents. In this study, thermally and chemically purified clay was mixed with boric acid as a pore-forming agent. Obtained results reveal that different contents of boric acid (2 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%) and variations in synthesis conditions, including low pressing pressures up to 60 MPa and low sintering temperatures of 1150 °C and 1300 °C, optimize the production of a filter medium with good separation and mechanical properties. Further, these findings indicate that an adequate combination of boric acid content and synthesis conditions positively affects mechanical properties, including values of hardness, Young’s modulus, compressive and tensile strength of clay-based filters. The clay-based filter with 2 wt.% boric acid exhibited a larger maximum pore diameter of nearly 0.2 mm, compared to the one with 0.5 wt.% boric acid. The filtering efficiencies of both filters were tested on pharmaceutical-grade ciprofloxacin with removal efficiency above 80% for two tested concentrations (6 μM and 9 μM). Full article

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) remain a challenging condition due to the limited regenerative potential of articular cartilage. Conventional bone marrow stimulation (BMS) techniques often result in fibrocartilage formation with inferior biomechanical properties. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and preliminary clinical efficacy of an arthroscopically assisted, single-stage injection of a heparin-conjugated fibrin hydrogel (HCFH) for OLT treatment. Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic OLT underwent arthroscopic debridement, microfracturing, and HCFH injection containing autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and growth factors. Safety was assessed through systematic monitoring of adverse events (graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria), wound healing, and serial laboratory inflammatory markers (leukocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) during early and late follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society score (AOFAS) preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months. Morphological assessment was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system, evaluated independently by two blinded musculoskeletal radiologists. Results: No serious adverse events (Grade III–IV) were observed during the 12-month follow-up. All adverse events were mild (Grade I) and self-limited. A transient postoperative elevation in inflammatory markers was observed, returning to clinically acceptable levels by day 14. Significant improvements were noted in pain (VAS decreased from 6.0 to 2.0) and ankle function (AOFAS increased from 70.0 to 90.6) (p < 0.001). MRI demonstrated progressive morphological improvement, with the MOCART score increasing from 34.16 ± 17.1 at 6 months to 75 ± 5.43 at 12 months (p < 0.001). This increase corresponded with imaging features consistent with tissue maturation over time. The favorable MOCART outcomes observed in this study may be explained by the regenerative properties of heparin-conjugated fibrin hydrogels; however, larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm the durability of the regenerated tissue. Interobserver agreement was substantial to almost perfect for MOCART scoring (κ = 0.68–0.84), with perfect agreement observed for surface assessment, bony defect/overgrowth, and cysts. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, single-stage HCFH injection demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and favorable preliminary clinical and radiological outcomes at 12 months. These findings suggest potential regenerative capability; however, controlled studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up are required to determine comparative efficacy and long-term durability. Full article

The Central Basin Fault Rift (CBFR) is a key area for studying deep-sea sedimentation and paleoclimate, yet its sedimentary process and provenance and their links to geological and climatic changes remain poorly understood. This study therefore conducted systematically sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical analyses of sediments in core ZK06 from the CBFR to address the above question. The results show that the sediments are dominated by silt and clay, with multiple graded rhythms related to gravity flows. Provenance analysis shows that the sediments are composed primarily of proximal andesitic volcaniclastic detritus, with additional Asian aeolian dust and minor authigenic components. It is recognized that the proportion of Asian aeolian dust increases from the lower to medium part of the sediment sequence but decreases in the upper part, which may correspond to the input history of Asian aeolian dust in the West Philippine Basin during the late Pleistocene to Holocene. This study therefore provides not only new insights into sedimentary processes and the provenance of sediments but also the input history of the Asian aeolian dust in central CBFR. Full article

The Wei River Basin (WRB) faces challenges including flood threats, ecological fragility, and uneven socio-economic development. However, existing ecosystem service supply–demand (ESSD) studies rarely incorporate flood-sediment transport as a core service, and systematic studies on revealing the multi-scale spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanism of ESSD coupling coordination remain insufficient. Therefore, this paper analyzed the ESSD across flood-sediment transport, eco-environmental, and socio-economic subsystems for the period 2005–2023 at three spatial scales (municipal, watershed, and county). A multi-scale comprehensive index of ESSD was constructed. Using the dynamic local and tele-coupling coordination degree (DLTCCD) model and spatial Markov model, we quantitatively assessed dynamic trade-offs and transition patterns of the DLTCCD in ESSD. The XGBoost-SHAP model and structural equation model were employed to explore the internal mechanisms through which key factors influence the DLTCCD. A zoning management mechanism was proposed by integrating the four-quadrant static model and DLTCCD change rate. The results showed the following: (1) ESSD exhibited a spatial pattern of “lower in the north and higher in the south,” with imbalances more evident at the county scale. (2) The DLTCCD showed significant scale dependence, with “spatial club convergence” of high and low levels in the Ziwuling Mountain and Longdong Plain areas. (3) Based on both the XGBoost-SHAP model and the structural equation model, precipitation was identified as the fundamental driving force across scales, exerting influence through interactive effects and a dual mediating path. (4) Zoning identification revealed structural challenges for sustainable development, marked by coexistence of coordinated and uncoordinated development zones. This study identifies the northern Loess Plateau, Qinling northern foothills, and Guanzhong Plain as key zones, proposes a “zoning-based graded intervention” strategy, and provides scientific support for ESSD management in the WRB. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in cosmetic and topical biomedical applications; however, conventional preparation methods rely heavily on centrifugation, which becomes operationally demanding when processing large blood volumes. In this study, a sedimentation-assisted strategy was investigated as an alternative to the initial centrifugation step for industrial-scale production of porcine PRP lyophilized powder. Whole blood anticoagulated with ACD-A was subjected to gravity sedimentation for 6–12 h, achieving >99.6% erythrocyte removal while maintaining a platelet recovery rate of >64%, comparable to conventional centrifugation. For large-volume batches (e.g., 100 L), this approach significantly reduced operator-intensive handling time. ACD-A outperformed other anticoagulants in preserving platelet integrity and preventing hemolysis during prolonged sedimentation. These findings demonstrate that gravity sedimentation represents a practical, scalable, and cost-effective alternative for the initial separation step in large-scale manufacturing of cosmetic-grade PRP raw material, with quality controlled by TGF-β1 concentration as the key release specification. Full article

Background/Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the radiologic outcomes and changes in biochemical inflammatory markers following posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (E.BMP-2), compared with conventional autologous bone grafting. Methods: The study included 112 patients undergoing single- or two-level PLIF for degenerative lumbar disease between 2022 and 2023, divided into E.BMP-2 (n = 50) and Control (n = 62) groups. Radiological outcomes, including Bridwell grading system and adjacent vertebral body (VB) changes, and changes in biochemical inflammatory markers—white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and neutrophil count—were assessed. Clinical outcomes were also evaluated. Multivariate regression and propensity-score-matched analyses, and linear mixed-effects models were applied. Results: Fusion rates were comparable between the groups (90.8% vs. 96.7%; p = 0.466); adjusted analyses showed no independent association between E.BMP-2 use and fusion outcomes. The E.BMP-2 group demonstrated a higher prevalence of adjacent VB changes (78.5% vs. 54.3%; p = 0.001), and higher postoperative inflammatory markers including CRP levels on postoperative day 7 and at 1 month, along with increased neutrophil levels on postoperative day 4 (CRP day 7: 31.7 ± 26.4 mg/L vs. 18.7 ± 14.4 mg/L, p = 0.014; CRP 1 month: 7.2 ± 13.0 mg/L vs. 2.7 ± 3.8 mg/L, p = 0.022; neutrophil count day 4: 64.4 ± 10.6% vs. 60.6 ± 8.7%, p = 0.039). However, no significant differences in clinical outcomes, as assessed by VAS scores, were observed according to adjacent VB changes or inflammatory markers. Postoperative fever and infection rates were similar between groups. Conclusions: E.BMP-2 use in PLIF demonstrated fusion rates comparable to those of autografts, without demonstrated superiority. No significant differences in clinical outcomes were identified. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to clarify its clinical role and optimal dosing. Full article