Search Results (3,161)

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition among older adults, particularly those in aged care, is a major contributor to morbidity and healthcare costs. Reduced visual contrast sensitivity, common with ageing and dementia, may impair the ability to distinguish food from tableware, potentially leading to decreased intake. This systematic review examined whether enhancing visual contrast in the dining environment improves dietary intake in older adults. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases were searched from inception to March 2025. Studies were eligible if they involved adults aged ≥65 years and used visual contrast interventions (e.g., coloured tableware, lighting adjustments) aimed at improving food or fluid intake. A narrative synthesis was conducted, and study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Of 2901 records screened, four studies (five reports) met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 64 participants. All studies implemented visual contrast enhancements, including high-contrast dishware and environmental modifications. Most reported increases in food or liquid intake, though statistical significance varied. Some studies also evaluated mealtime behaviours, functional abilities, and food waste, with mixed findings. Methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, short interventions, and inconsistent reporting limited the strength of evidence. Conclusions: Limited and low-quality evidence suggests a possible effect of modifying the dining environment to improve visual contrast for enhancing dietary intake in older adults, with visual contrast sensitivity, particularly those with dementia. However, the evidence gap is large and remains inconclusive. Future well-powered trials with standardised interventions and outcome measures are needed to determine whether these strategies can meaningfully reduce malnutrition in aged care settings. Full article

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage owing to the abundant sodium resources, low cost, and lithium-ion battery (LIB)-analogous working principles, yet their commercialization is hindered by low energy density, insufficient cycling stability and safety concerns, which are essentially attributed to the inadequate optimization of electrolytes, electrode materials and their interfacial behaviors. This paper presents a systematic review of the latest research advances in SIBs from three core perspectives: electrolyte system optimization, electrode material design, and electrode/electrolyte interface engineering. For electrolytes, we elaborate on the optimization strategies of liquid organic, solid-state and aqueous electrolytes; for electrode materials, we summarize the research progress and modification methods of both cathode and anode materials; for interface regulation, we clarify the formation mechanisms, characterization techniques and construction strategies of the electrode/electrolyte interface. By quantitatively comparing the advantages and limitations of different technical approaches, we further propose the prioritized future research directions for SIBs in electrolyte innovation, electrode material design and interface optimization. This work aims to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the development of high-performance SIBs by systematically sorting out the technical routes of electrolyte–electrode-interface synergy and defining the research focus of subsequent optimization. Full article

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a progressive and often fatal interstitial lung disease characterised by complex genetic and molecular heterogeneity. Traditional diagnostic approaches, which rely on clinical, radiological and histopathological assessment, are frequently insufficient to capture the underlying biological diversity of the disease. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has substantially advanced the understanding of PF by enabling comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic profiling. NGS technologies, including whole-exome sequencing (WES), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and targeted gene panels, have uncovered key genetic determinants. These include mutations in telomere-related genes (TERT, TERC, RTEL1) and surfactant-related genes (SFTPC, SFTPA2), as well as common variants like the MUC5B promoter polymorphism. These discoveries have clarified disease pathogenesis, revealed polygenic risk models, and may improve diagnostic accuracy, particularly in distinguishing overlapping interstitial lung disease (ILD) phenotypes. Beyond genetics, transcriptomic analyses have identified dysregulated pathways, including TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, and PI3K/Akt signalling, and have enabled the discovery of novel biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic response. In selected clinical settings, NGS is beginning to support patient stratification and inform management decisions. Emerging applications, including liquid biopsy and integration with artificial intelligence, further expand the potential clinical utility of NGS. Despite challenges related to cost, data interpretation and standardisation, NGS represents a powerful research tool in PF. Full article

This work develops a sustainable, low-viscosity grout material by incorporating industrial byproducts (rice husk ash, RIA; and fly ash, FLA) to address key challenges in rock stabilization: clogging susceptibility, high cost, poor environmental performance, and unbalanced engineering properties. Through single-factor experiments and an entropy-weighted Taguchi–grey relational analysis, the optimal mix ratio was determined to be 10% RIA, 10% FLA, and 0.45% polycarboxylate superplasticizer (POS), and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 1.05. Improved workability: The viscosity of the slurry significantly decreases, allowing its injection into rock fissures as small as micrometers. The slurry setting time and strength meet the requirements for the emergency repair of engineering rock masses. Cost efficiency: Utilizing waste materials reduces production costs by 17.9% per ton. Environmental benefits: CO₂ emissions decrease by 36.3% (150.62 g/kg vs. 237 g/kg for conventional grout), whereas leaching tests confirm that heavy metal concentrations (As < 0.1 ppm, Pb < 0.5 ppm) comply with environmental standards. Microstructural analysis reveals that RIA enhances density through pore-filling effects and pozzolanic activity. This study provides a practical, eco-friendly solution for rapid rock stabilization, aligns with circular economy principles, and supports sustainable infrastructure development. Full article

Associated gas in the Permian Basin is a methane-rich but spatially fragmented and intermittently available feedstock. Methane pyrolysis can convert hydrocarbons to hydrogen and solid carbon without forming process CO₂ in the reactor, but its practical value depends on the captured-gas capacity factor, feed composition, high-temperature heat supply, product purification, continuous carbon withdrawal, carbon offtake, and transparent greenhouse-gas accounting. This study presents an implemented screening model for a modular 1 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) Permian associated-gas unit. A representative Permian composition is evaluated with hydrocarbon cracking stoichiometry, catalytic and thermal conversion envelopes, a net hydrogen recovery assumption, an energy-duty allocation, a levelized-cost model, and a well-to-gate carbon-intensity model. The catalytic base case produces 3.78 t/d of saleable H₂ after 90% pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) recovery and 14.27 t/d of solid carbon; the thermal near-complete conversion bound produces 4.31 t/d of saleable H₂ and 16.15 t/d of solid carbon. At a 0.85 capacity factor, $10 million installed capital expenditure (CAPEX), 8% real discount rate, 20-year life, 10 kWh per kg H₂ energy intensity, and $0.06 per kWh electricity, the deterministic plant-gate levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is $1.81 per kg H₂ at zero carbon value and $1.05 per kg H₂ at a net realized carbon value of $0.20 per kg C. Monte Carlo analysis over capacity factor, CAPEX, energy intensity, electricity price, carbon value, feed/capture cost, and yield uncertainty gives levelized cost of hydrogen values at the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles (P10/P50/P90) of $1.32/$1.91/$2.57 per kg H₂. The corresponding screening carbon-intensity distribution is 2.34/4.11/5.89 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per kg H₂, dominated by electricity carbon intensity and upstream methane loss. Geothermal or waste-heat preheat is treated quantitatively as a partial offset to low- and mid-temperature duties, not as a replacement for high-grade 900–1200 °C trim heat. The pathway is benchmarked against steam methane reforming, autothermal reforming with carbon capture and storage, electrolysis, small-scale liquefied natural gas, and gas-to-liquids conversion. Reported LCOH values are plant-gate production costs; separate hydrogen-logistics and negative-carbon-value stress tests identify conditions under which remote delivery or carbon disposal can erode the apparent economic advantage. Full article

Traditional hypergolic propellants, such as hydrazine derivatives combined with nitrogen tetroxide, present severe toxicity, operational, and environmental hazards. High-test peroxide has emerged as a leading green oxidiser replacement due to its low volatility, high density, and benign decomposition products. This review comprehensively analyses recent advancements in HTP-based hypergolic fuel formulations, categorising them into three major emerging families: catalytically-promoted, reactive, and ionic liquid-based systems. By evaluating key parameters such as ignition delay times, specific impulse and toxicity, this work identifies a clear technological shift from fundamental chemical screening to increasingly more mature solutions. While historical targets defined hypergolicity below 100 ms, recent advanced formulations routinely achieve it under 10 ms requiring minimal additive concentrations (<5 wt%), directly competing with legacy systems. Furthermore, this review highlights critical open challenges that limit commercial adoption, including the long-term storage stability of catalytic blends, high toxicity of reactive systems, and the lifecycle toxicity and high cost of frequently employed ionic liquids. Ultimately, it is concluded that rather than a single universal replacement, the future of green hypergolic propulsion lies in a plurality of solution, where each family is tailored to specific niches defined by mission requirements and cost structures. Full article

Fungicide residues in complex food matrices represent an increasingly important challenge in food safety monitoring because intensive agricultural practices, diverse fungicide chemistries, and tropical production conditions can generate multiclass contamination patterns, particularly in Southeast Asian food systems. This review critically evaluates literature published between 2019 and 2026 on microchemical analytical strategies for multiclass fungicide residue determination in fruits, vegetables, rice, spices, and processed foods. The review focuses on the integration of miniaturized and green sample preparation techniques, including modified QuEChERS, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, solid-phase microextraction, hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction, magnetic solid-phase extraction, and deep eutectic solvent-based extraction, with advanced chromatographic and mass spectrometric platforms. Current evidence shows that these methods can reduce solvent consumption, improve analytical efficiency, and support sensitive residue determination when coupled with UHPLC–MS/MS, GC–MS/MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. However, method performance remains strongly matrix-dependent and is constrained by matrix effects, limited standardization of emerging extraction materials, inconsistent validation practices, and trade-offs among selectivity, throughput, cost, and sustainability. No single extraction strategy is universally optimal for all food matrices or fungicide classes. Future research should therefore prioritize matrix-adapted hybrid workflows, harmonized validation protocols, improved detection of transformation products, and broader use of high-resolution screening strategies to support reliable, sustainable, and regulatory-compliant fungicide residue monitoring. Full article

High-speed electric machines enhance power density and eliminate the need for a gearbox in waste heat recovery microturbine systems. However, existing designs often suffer from high manufacturing costs and complex cooling requirements. This study presents the development, experimental validation, and comparative analysis of three high-speed machine designs. First, a lower-speed induction machine prototype, constructed using standardized components, was tested at an operating speed of 13,000 rpm. This prototype enabled experimental validation of the numerical model used for loss calculations. Experimental results showed total losses of 7.89 kW, closely matching the simulated value of 7.75 kW at an output power of 93.1 kW, i.e., an efficiency of 92.19%. Building on these findings, two smaller machine prototypes were developed: one featuring an induction squirrel-cage rotor and the other employing a surface-mounted permanent magnet rotor topology. Both machines were designed and evaluated using finite element analysis and conjugate heat transfer simulations. Their performance was analyzed under both sinusoidal and pulse-width-modulated voltage supply conditions. At an operating speed of 14,000 rpm, the permanent magnet machine outperformed the induction machine, achieving 63.2 kW of mechanical power and an efficiency of 96.21%, while operating at lower temperatures. In comparison, the induction machine delivered 52.4 kW of mechanical power with an efficiency of 94.64%. The primary novelty and contribution of this work lie in the implementation of a two-pole machine architecture capable of achieving an output power of 100 kW at operating speeds between 20,000 and 25,000 rpm. Compared with similar solutions reported in the literature, the proposed machines feature a simplified bearing arrangement and a more straightforward liquid-cooling system. These characteristics have the potential to reduce manufacturing costs and simplify maintenance during operation. Full article

The use of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) in rocket propulsion systems is among the most critical technologies enabling highly efficient space exploration. Fuel-oxidizer combinations directly impact mission performance, safety, and sustainability. In the literature, determining which oxidizer to use to obtain an efficient combination in experimental studies is a valuable area of research. However, evaluating different alternatives according to various criteria in experimental studies is expensive, time-consuming, and quite dangerous. This study aims to provide decision-makers with analytical support through a novel multi-criteria decision-making methodology. In this context, the simple weight calculation (SIWEC) method is integrated to determine the weights of the criteria, and the mulTi-noRmalization mUlti-distance aSsessmenT (TRUST) method is integrated to evaluate the oxidizers. The results show that the most important criterion is combustion, followed by environmental sustainability, applicability, cost, and operational safety. The foremost oxidizer, according to the analyses, parametric sensitivity analysis scenarios, and comparative analyses, is overwhelmingly LH₂-liquid oxygen (LOX). In all analyses, fluorine (F₂) ranked second, followed by the FLOX mixture in third place, and ozone (O₃) in last place. In addition, sensitivity analyses based on α and β parameter variations and comparative analyses were conducted to evaluate the robustness and stability of the proposed decision-making framework. Full article

Passive microvalves enable autonomous operation of microfluidic devices by allowing time-controlled fluid delivery without external actuation. Here, we report a simple, low-cost, single-use passive microvalve based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for time-programmed fluid delivery. The valve operates through dissolution of a solidified PVA plug formed inside poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchannels after evaporation of the solvent phase. The valve dissolves when exposed to an aqueous medium, enabling fluid flow. The valve opening time was experimentally characterized as a function of the injected liquid volume using three PVA formulations and three microchannel cross-sections fabricated in PMMA. Experimental results showed a non-linear dependence of the opening time on the injected volume, as well as the influence of PVA formulation, channel geometry, and temperature. In addition, a demonstrative multi-valve device showed sequential valve opening with delays up to 7 h. The proposed approach enables simple and autonomous timed fluid release using inexpensive materials and straightforward fabrication processes, representing a promising strategy for low-cost microfluidic applications. Full article

Rapid detection and localization of liquid fuel spills is critical for first responders assessing fire and health hazards, yet current methods require ground-based sampling or specialized instrumentation, limiting their practicality for wide-area emergency response. We present a drone-based passive colorimetric sensor system using test strips impregnated with Nile red, similar to colored confetti. Nile red is a solvatochromic dye that undergoes distinct visible color transitions upon exposure to different liquids. The dye is embedded within a polymer matrix that minimizes leaching while providing high optical contrast between dry, water-exposed, and fuel-exposed states. The sensor strips exhibit solvent-specific colorimetric responses within one minute of exposure, readily detectable by standard RGB cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at altitudes up to 50 m. Automated classification was validated at 20 m altitude, enabling remote surveillance of contaminated surfaces without specialized equipment. Color-corrected image analysis using Calibrite ColorChecker calibration ensures reliable interpretation under variable field illumination (625–77,000 lux). Systematic laboratory evaluation of twelve fossil and bio-derived fuels revealed characteristic hue shifts that clearly discriminate ethanol-containing gasoline blends from diesel-range fuels. Rather than identifying specific molecules, the method functionally categorizes contamination into gasoline/ethanol blends versus diesel-type fuels, reflecting bulk polarity rather than molecular composition. Field validation confirmed localization and classification of fuel-exposed sensors, achieving F1 scores of 0.94 for gasoline and 0.98 for diesel detection with no false positives in the tested scenarios. This cost-effective and scalable approach provides actionable information on both contamination location and fuel type, crucial for rapid hazard assessment in emergency response scenarios. Full article

This article examines Liquid Equity Rewards (LERs), a proposed blockchain-enabled mechanism designed to provide shareholders with time-weighted, utility-only incentives as a potential tool for improving corporate governance. LERs employ a dual architecture comprising voucher-based rewards for off-chain equities and programmable on-chain units for tokenized stocks to encourage shareholder retention amid proxy battles, activist challenges, and corporate political complexities. Drawing on NASDAQ’s tokenized stock framework, stablecoin infrastructure, and DeFi liquid staking principles, this article develops a conceptual and normative framework for LERs and evaluates its potential effectiveness relative to conventional defenses such as poison pills. The analysis assesses LER’s plausible legal compatibility with Delaware corporation law, U.S. securities rules, and the EU’s MiCA framework, while acknowledging that definitive legal conclusions require case-specific adjudication and future regulatory interpretation. The article advances four testable hypotheses regarding LER’s potential to mitigate stock price volatility, reduce activist success rates, and address ESG, M&A, and political expenditure disputes in a market context shaped by shareholder activism. The proxy-fight context is the principal application; ESG, M&A, political-spending, and executive-compensation contexts are discussed as illustrative extensions of the framework rather than as equally mature use cases. A comparative evaluation against existing governance mechanisms and a cost–benefit analysis suggest that LER’s governance enhancements and market opportunities may outweigh implementation challenges, subject to empirical validation. This article contributes a structured analytical framework and identifies conditions under which LERs could offer a scalable, transparent alternative that fosters stakeholder alignment. Full article

Sustainable rural development requires households to move beyond defensive medical spending and emergency borrowing toward more productive, forward-looking resource allocation. This study uses panel data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), covering the 2017, 2019, and 2021 waves plus a newly released 2023 green-channel wave. We examine whether improvements in safe drinking water, clean cooking energy, and sanitation are associated with lower rural household economic vulnerability. We employ a staggered difference-in-differences design with household and year fixed effects, complemented by event–study tests, mediation analysis, and robustness checks. Environmental infrastructure improvements are significantly associated with lower child hospitalization and out-of-pocket medical expenditure, reduced reliance on high-cost informal credit, and higher income-generating asset shares. Mechanism analysis supports a “health–credit–income” channel, in which environmental improvements reduce preventable health shocks, ease emergency borrowing, and relax liquidity constraints on productive asset allocation. Threshold results further show that these financial-resilience benefits are strongest among households with the lowest baseline resource endowments. The study focuses on rural China, yet the identified health–credit–income mechanism offers a broader, scalable framework. Environmental infrastructure first reduces preventable disease burden, then eases emergency informal borrowing, and finally frees liquidity for income-generating assets. This sequence helps explain how environmental investment can create the financial preconditions for sustainable consumption and investment across developing economies. These findings offer micro-level evidence for integrating environmental infrastructure, rural financial resilience, and ESG social-value assessment. Full article

Developing efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is crucial to the practical application of water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Herein, a tubular array of a mesoporous NiMoO₄@NiFeS heterostructure was anchored on nickel foam through successive hydrothermal processing, liquid etching and direct sulfur vulcanization. The efficient charge transfer, phase transition and full exposure of active sites at the heterostructure’s interfaces, as well as its superhydrophilic surface, endow NiMoO₄@NiFeS with exceptional OER activity. A series of electrochemical experiments indicate that in 1.0 mol·L⁻¹ KOH, NiMoO₄@NiFeS delivers overpotentials as low as 180 and 223 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm⁻², respectively, and that a Tafel slope of merely 25.9 mV dec⁻¹ is achieved on NiMoO₄@NiFeS, evidencing that the tubular array of the mesoporous NiMoO₄@NiFeS heterostructure significantly facilitates the interfacial transfer of charge/mass and the decrease in the energy barrier of the rate-determining step. This work provides valuable insights for the construction of an efficient and low-cost electrocatalyst with hierarchical mesoporous core–shell structures. Full article

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology can play an important role in meeting net-zero ambitions; however, its successful deployment depends on the transport and storage infrastructure for CO₂, as they are the backbone of the carbon management industry. Among the key integrity threats for dense-phase and supercritical CO₂ pipelines, acid precipitation or dropout in CO₂-rich streams containing reactive impurities (SO_x, NO_x, H₂S, H₂O, O_2, etc.) is one of the most serious. These impurities can alter phase behavior, promote formation of highly acidic liquid-phase condensates, and trigger severe localized corrosion and rapid wall-thickness loss. This review focuses on understanding the effects of specific combinations of impurities on CO₂ phase envelopes, acid formation, and corrosion mechanisms in pipelines under realistic flow and operating conditions. It further assesses mitigation and design strategies, including impurity specification and control, deep dehydration, operational envelope management, corrosion-resistant alloys, internal linings and advanced coatings, and emerging modeling tools for predicting corrosive dropout. The knowledge gap in long-term performance under multi-impurity conditions, thermo-hydraulic transients, and coupled corrosion damage is highlighted. Additionally, the importance of future experimental, modeling, and standards development work to enable safe, cost-effective material solutions for CCS technology deployment is proposed. Full article