Search Results (238)

The performance of grain storage silos is strongly influenced by discharge flow patterns, hopper geometry, and material properties such as moisture content and impurity levels. However, the combined effects of these factors on flow behavior, discharge rate, and segregation are not yet fully understood. This study experimentally investigated the integrated effects of moisture content, prismatic hopper geometry (hopper angle β), and impurity addition on flow behavior, segregation, and mass flow rate in reduced-scale silos. Experiments were conducted using three prismatic silos with hopper angles of β = 15°, 33°, and 45°, filled with maize at moisture contents of 13.6%, 20.2%, and 26.0% (wet basis), under both clean conditions and with the addition of 10% impurities (fraction passing through a 5 mm sieve). The discharge rate was determined by direct mass–time measurements, flow patterns were inferred from video analysis, and segregation was quantified based on the mass fraction of impurities in samples collected during discharge. The results indicate that moisture content was the most influential factor, reducing the discharge rate by up to 22.8% when increasing from 20.2% to 26.0% w.b. (p < 0.05). Hopper geometry also had a significant effect, with performance differences among configurations becoming more pronounced under high-moisture conditions. The addition of 10% impurities increased the discharge rate under all tested conditions, with gains of up to 29.0% at 26.0% w.b. and β = 15°. Segregation intensified with increasing moisture content, leading to a progressive accumulation of impurities toward the end of discharge. The stick–slip phenomenon was observed under a critical condition (26.0% w.b., β = 15°, with impurities), resulting in a 23.0% reduction in the average discharge rate compared to the equivalent stable condition. These findings demonstrate that granular flow behavior in silos is governed by the interaction between moisture, hopper geometry, and material composition. The results also suggest that operational strategies such as pre-cleaning should be evaluated in conjunction with expected moisture conditions, as pre-cleaning may adversely affect flow performance under high-moisture scenarios. Full article

This study presents a numerical investigation of a slit fin-enhanced phase change material (PCM)-based battery thermal management system (BTMS) for an 18650 cylindrical LiNi_xCo_γMnzO₂ lithium-ion battery. The proposed design modifies the conventional solid rectangular external fins by introducing four longitudinal slit fins with uniformly distributed rectangular through-thickness slot cutouts along the fin height. This modification increases the PCM-fin interfacial contact area and creates additional natural convective heat dissipation pathways from the PCM region to the ambient environment while maintaining the same BTMS envelope, PCM thickness, fin count, housing geometry, and material selection as the validated rectangular-fin baseline. The lumped-capacitance thermal model was used for battery heat generation, while the enthalpy-porosity approach was employed to model PCM melting. Simulations were performed in ANSYS Fluent 2024/R2 at 1C, 3C, 5C, and 7C discharge rates at an ambient temperature of 308.15 K. Paraffin wax PCM with a latent heat of approximately 240,000 J/kg was used. The rectangular fin model was first validated against the baseline study, achieving an average cell wall temperature error of 1.03% and a maximum error of 1.47% at 5C, while the total temperature and liquid fraction deviations remained below 0.73%, confirming the reliability of the numerical model. Mesh independence and temporal convergence studies further confirmed that the selected 0.50 mm polyhedral mesh and 0.5 s time step provided accurate and stable results. The results demonstrate that the slit fin geometry provides metric-dependent improvements in PCM utilization, thermal protection duration, and high-rate latent-heat activation rates. At 1C, both configurations remained well below the 318.15 K safety threshold, but the slit fin configuration maintained approximately 0.7 K lower total temperature at 2500 s and delayed PCM melting by about 300 s compared with rectangular fins, preserving more latent heat capacity for later thermal loading. At 3C, the slit fin design extended the thermal protection duration from 1650 s to 2500 s, corresponding to a 51.5% improvement, and increased PCM latent heat utilization from LF = 0.42 to LF = 0.49, representing a 16.7% increase. At 5C, slit fins initiated PCM melting approximately 3.5 times earlier, around 100 s, compared with 350–400 s for rectangular fins, and reached LF = 0.50 at 620 s, whereas rectangular fins reached only LF = 0.37 at 1480 s. This corresponds to approximately 2.87 times faster PCM utilization and 35.1% greater PCM melting. At 7C, the slit fin system again showed stronger PCM engagement, corresponding to 35.7% greater PCM utilization. Temperature and liquid fraction contours confirmed that the slit openings intensify localised PCM melting near the heat source, improve heat spreading through the PCM domain, and support natural convection-assisted melting. Overall, the slit-fin geometry provides a geometry-based enhancement for PCM utilization and thermal protection without changing system size or material selection for PCM-based BTMSs, improving latent heat utilization and thermal protection without increasing system size, PCM volume, or material complexity. Full article

Two bio-based insulating oils (BHOs) with average carbon chain lengths of approximately 18 and 22 were investigated as short- and long-chain BHOs. By constructing an oil-paper composite insulation system, the generation law of characteristic gases in the two systems was studied by partial discharge experiments. Based on the ReaxFF reaction molecular dynamics simulation under electrothermal coupling stress, the cracking path, cracking rate, evolution of oxygen-containing small molecules, and generation path of characteristic gases of cellulose polymer were revealed. Both systems produced H₂, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CO, and CO₂, with CO₂ dominant and C₂H₆ least abundant. The short-chain BHO generated markedly higher amounts of H₂, CO, C₂H₂, and C₂H₄ than the long-chain BHO; after 15 min, its H₂ and CO concentrations were about 3.4- and 2.1-times those in the long-chain system, respectively. ReaxFF simulations showed that cellulose degradation in the short-chain BHO followed stepwise chain scission and continuous decarbonylation, favoring CO and unsaturated gas precursors. In contrast, cellulose chains disappeared faster in the long-chain BHO, producing more oxygen-containing organic fragments and C₁-C₅ oxygenated molecules and a higher small-molecule conversion ratio. Characteristic gas pathway analysis revealed that all seven gases could be generated from cellulose pyrolysis intermediates, and different oil environments primarily influenced gas generation behavior by altering the evolution pathways of these intermediates. These findings, at the molecular scale, elucidate the impact of BHO environments on the degradation mechanism of cellulose polymers, providing a theoretical basis for the condition assessment and design of environmentally friendly oil-paper insulation systems. Full article

Freshwater shallow lakes are vulnerable to global warming, putting entire aquatic ecosystems at risk, but evidence from managed reservoirs remains limited despite the existence of long-term empirical data. Using data from 29 stations on Lake Tisza covering an 18-year period (2007–2024), this study quantifies warming rates, thermal stress patterns and trends in water quality in lacustrine, transitional and riverine zones. Lake areas warmed at a rate of 0.90 °C/decade (p < 0.001), faster than the river/transition areas and even than global averages in shallow lakes. Temperature-critical years now affect 90.4% of lake stations, compared with 59.6% in 2007–2012. A strong negative correlation between temperature and dissolved oxygen was observed along all systems (Spearman’s p; river: −0.83, transition: −0.65, lake: −0.53), indicating thermal-driven deoxygenation risk. At the same time, a water quality index (conductivity, pH, BOD₅, total nitrogen and phosphorus, total coliforms) showed an improvement (lake WQI: 63.7 to 74.3). Principal component analysis explained 85% of its variance, showing spatial gradients of eutrophication and fecal contamination, with lacustrine homogenization suggesting management interventions. Lake Tisza is warming faster than global shallow lake averages, with critical implications for the ecosystem’s function; nonetheless, the coexistence of thermal deterioration with improvements in its WQI reveals the effectiveness of the intermittent discharge system and the need for climate-adapted monitoring frameworks that incorporate thermal vulnerability into water quality assessment for regulated shallow lakes under climate change pressure. Full article

Over the past few years, laser structuring of electrodes has been shown as a powerful tool to significantly improve the rate capability and cycling ability of lithium-ion batteries. However, the impact of anode/cathode pattern combinations on electrochemical performance in full-cell configurations remains poorly understood. This work investigated for the first time the influence of laser structuring strategies and pattern combinations on the laser processing rate as well as the electrochemical performance of full cells containing NMC 811 cathodes and graphite anodes. Meanwhile, the mass losses due to laser ablation with different strategies were kept similar for cathodes and anodes. The line-patterning process exhibited a processing rate that was an order of magnitude higher than that for blind hole drilling. Moreover, line patterning of graphite anodes with an average laser power of 5.0 W showed a two to five times higher laser processing rate than with 2.5 W. Subsequently, the structured electrodes were cross-combined and assembled into full cells. All cells with laser-structured electrodes exhibited improved rate performance, reduced ionic resistance, and a shift in the onset of lithium plating to higher C-rates in comparison to the reference cells with unstructured electrodes. In particular, the cells with “Line 5 W” electrodes demonstrated excellent rate performance, delivering an increase of 72 mAh g⁻¹ in discharge capacity compared to the reference cells at 5C and achieving 80% state of charge in 18 min. The results indicated that line patterns enhance rate performance more effectively than hole patterns. Furthermore, wider grooves in the electrodes were produced using higher average laser power, which may provide larger electrolyte reservoirs. This could support the rewetting processes of the electrolyte in the electrodes during electrochemical cycling and thus significantly improve rate performance and cell lifetime. Full article

Aiming at the problems that existing detection methods struggle to accurately identify early insulation faults of induction motors, are susceptible to interference, and have poor installation adaptability, a non-intrusive detection method for early insulation faults of induction motors based on a microstrip antenna array is proposed. Relying on the low-loss electromagnetic wave transmission characteristic of the heat dissipation hole at the tail of the induction motor, a four-element microstrip antenna array with multiple narrow beams and dual detection frequencies is designed, with the detection frequencies accurately set at 1.14 GHz and 2.23 GHz, which effectively avoids the motor operation noise frequency band (≤300 MHz) and the strong interference frequency band of mobile base stations (900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz). Utilizing the high gain and strong directivity of the array antenna, the accurate extraction and amplification of weak electromagnetic wave signals from early insulation fault discharge penetrating through the heat dissipation hole are realized. The full-dimensional simulation design of the antenna array is completed by using HFSS electromagnetic simulation software, and an industrial-grade experimental platform is built to carry out multi-condition verification experiments. The results show that the proposed detection system can realize non-intrusive, non-stop, and non-disassembly identification of early insulation discharge faults in induction motors, with a fault recognition rate of 94% for single faults and 90% for composite faults, and the average signal-to-noise ratio reaches 31.6–35.2 dB. Even under strong industrial electromagnetic interference, the recognition rate remains above 85%. This method overcomes the problems of traditional methods such as severe noise interference, difficult installation, and inability to monitor online, providing a high-efficiency scheme for real-time insulation state monitoring of industrial induction motors with good engineering application value. Full article

Dry rooms used in battery and semiconductor research facilities require ultra-low dew-point environments, which demand significant thermal energy for desiccant rotor regeneration. In steam-regenerated systems, condensate discharged through steam traps partially evaporates due to pressure reduction, generating flash steam that is typically released into the atmosphere, resulting in substantial energy losses. This study investigates the generation and recovery potential of flash steam in dry room HVAC systems. Field measurements were conducted for 18 steam-regenerated desiccant air handling units installed in a medium-scale research facility (total floor area: 43,000 m²) in southern Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Boiler operation data—including feedwater flow rate, pressure, and operating time—were analyzed over a six-month period from March to August 2025. The results showed that the average flash steam generation rate was approximately 1.16 ton/h, corresponding to 8.56% of the average feedwater flow rate. Two recovery methods were evaluated: a steam jet thermocompressor (SJT) and an exhaust vapor condenser (EVC). The analysis revealed that the EVC system provides a more practical solution for medium-scale dry rooms because it does not require high-pressure primary steam. By recovering flash steam using three EVC units, an average heat recovery of 724 kW was achieved. The recovered heat can produce 86 °C hot water, which can be utilized as a driving heat source for an absorption chiller, generating approximately 507 kW of cooling capacity. This configuration partially offsets the cooling load of existing centrifugal chillers, thereby reducing electrical energy consumption. In addition, the proposed system eliminates atmospheric discharge of flash steam, mitigating the visible white plume phenomenon commonly observed in industrial facilities. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrating flash steam recovery with absorption cooling to enhance energy efficiency in medium-scale dry room HVAC systems. Full article

Aiming at solving the detection problems caused by weak partial discharge signals of underground cable joints and random and variable spatial electromagnetic wave interference, a non-contact detection technology based on the dynamic multi-notch method is proposed. This technology synchronously collects pure interference signals and mixed signals containing partial discharge through a dual-position detection antenna. After converting to the frequency domain via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the notch frequency bands are dynamically determined based on the real-time interference spectrum, and interference suppression is achieved by frequency domain zeroing filtering. Finally, the partial discharge pulse signal is restored through Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT). A simulation experiment platform for 10 kV XLPE cable joints was built to verify the detection of typical defects such as metal debris, insulation scratches, and conductor burrs. Experimental results show that the average extraction success rate of this method for weak partial discharge signals reaches 94.7%, and the detection accuracy is ≥92.3% in a normal environment without strong interference, which is significantly better than the traditional ultra-high frequency (UHF) detection method (45.8%) and the fixed notch method (68.3%). This technology realizes the accurate detection of weak partial discharge signals in complex environments, provides a reliable solution for the early warning of insulation defects in underground cable intermediate joints, and has important engineering application value. Full article

Excessive phosphorus discharge from aquaculture effluent significantly contributes to coastal eutrophication, while conventional adsorbents exhibit limited phosphorus removal efficiency in high-salinity, weakly alkaline seawater effluent. This study developed iron/calcium co-modified chlorella biochar (FCBC) through co-impregnation and high-temperature pyrolysis, optimizing the preparation process via the Box–Behnken response surface method. The optimal conditions were identified as an iron concentration of 2.5 mol/L, a calcium concentration of 2.0 mol/L, a pyrolysis temperature of 717 °C, and a duration of 113 min. Under these conditions, FCBC achieved a phosphorus removal rate of 93.23% within 3 h, which was significantly higher than that of the unmodified Chlorella biochar (BC, <8% within the same reaction time). The Fe/Ca co-modification endowed FCBC with a positively charged surface, an increased average pore size of 22.773 nm, and good magnetic responsiveness (saturation magnetization of 6.68 emu·g⁻¹). FCBC demonstrated remarkable adaptability, achieving over 97% phosphorus removal across a pH range of 3 to 11, salinity levels of 5 to 40‰, and phosphorus concentrations of 1 to 15 mg/L. Its adsorption kinetics conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics (R² = 0.987) and the Freundlich model (R² = 0.971), with efficient phosphorus removal primarily attributed to iron–calcium synergistic effects. FCBC presents significant potential for phosphorus treatment in marine aquaculture effluents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) correction is a complex surgery to restore spinal alignment and relieve patients’ symptoms. Modern techniques and technologies allow for aggressive surgical correction in tissue-friendly ways that preserve anatomy and may enable faster recovery. Robotic-assisted posterior spinal stabilization may be used as an adjunct to complex ASD reconstruction to facilitate a minimally invasive approach, reduce perioperative morbidity and physiological insult, and allow for the performance of procedures traditionally reserved for large academic centers to be effectively performed by qualified surgeons in optimized patients at smaller hospitals with fewer resources. The objective of this study is to assess realignment, perioperative complications, and patient-reported outcomes of complex, minimally invasive, robotic-assisted adult spinal deformity correction in a surgical specialty hospital. Methods: Demographic, surgical, and perioperative data were collected from the medical record. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain scores were collected preoperatively and at regular post-op visits. X-rays were captured preoperatively before hospital discharge and at follow-up visits. Results: Fifty consecutive deformity patients were corrected with a two-stage approach (anterior column reconstruction followed by posterior stabilization with robotic-assisted screw placement on the next day) at a 48-bed (eight operating rooms), surgeon-owned, subspecialty hospital. The average patient age was 70 years, and 64% were female. The average estimated blood loss (EBL) values for the first and second stages were 62 mL and 205 mL, respectively. The average operative time was 172 min during the first stage and 210 min for the second stage. Three interbody spacers (first stage) and 16 screws (second stage) were inserted on average in each procedure. The average length of stay (LOS) in the hospital was 5 days, and the average follow-up period was 10.6 months. No patients required a transfer to another facility with intensive care unit (ICU) capabilities, and none required a revision of hardware placement. There was an average reduction in the lumbar coronal scoliotic curve of 14.5° and an increase in lumbar lordosis of 14.8° at the latest follow-up (p < 0.01). The average mismatch between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) preoperatively was 17.6°, which was reduced to 9.6° at the latest postoperative follow-up (p < 0.01). Mean ODI (%) and NRS scores were significantly improved by 33.8% (46.7 ± 13.3 to 30.9 ± 19.8; p < 0.01) and 55% (6.0 ± 2.2 to 2.7 ± 2.6; p < 0.01), respectively, at last follow-up. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of performing complex, robotic-assisted ASD corrective surgery in a surgical specialty hospital, achieving significant correction of sagittal and coronal deformities, relieving patients’ symptoms, and offering efficiency and consistency to pedicle screw placement. This study demonstrates that a minimally invasive approach to complex deformity reconstruction reduces perioperative morbidity with decreased operative times, EBL, and LOS when compared to historic controls. This approach allows for the democratization of deformity care in that procedures typically reserved for large academic centers can be successfully accomplished at smaller institutions in optimized patients by qualified surgeons with appropriate perioperative support staff. Full article

Non-cohesive earth dams are widely distributed in natural and semi-engineering scenarios, and overtopping-induced breaches are their most catastrophic failure mode. Accurate prediction of the overtopping failure process and breach evolution is critical for risk assessment, emergency management, and dam design optimization. In this study, an improved 3D numerical method is developed to simulate the coupled hydrodynamic–erosion–breach evolution processes of non-cohesive earth dams. The model based on the finite volume method integrates three core modules: a hydrodynamic module based on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the Volume of Fluid method for free surface tracking, a dam material erosion module considering particle entrainment and transport mechanisms of non-cohesive soils, and a breach development module coupling erosion and gravitational collapse. To validate the model, two levels of verification are conducted: first, a classic benchmark dam break case is employed to confirm the feasibility of the hydrodynamic and breach evolution algorithms; second, published flume experimental data of non-cohesive earth dam overtopping failures are adopted to evaluate the model accuracy in predicting breach hydrographs and spatiotemporal evolution of breach geometry. The results demonstrate that the proposed model accurately reproduces the key characteristics of overtopping failure with high fidelity. The predicted breach flow rates and flow depths are in excellent agreement with experimental observations, with relative errors less than 5% for both peak discharge and time to peak. Consequently, this study provides a reliable numerical tool for detailed simulation of non-cohesive earth dam breaches and offers scientific support for emergency management. Full article

As volcanism may be considered synonymous with heat, the MODVOLC system utilizes thermal infrared satellite data from MODIS instruments to monitor the eruptive state of active volcanoes in near-real-time. This automatic hot-spot detection system is used here as the primary data source. We present a 25-year (2000–2024) record of MODVOLC lava discharge rates for Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. Examples are given for four large flank eruptions occurring in 2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, and 2008–2009. Derived “lower” and “upper” erupted volume estimates for these eruptions range from $28-53\times {10}^6 {\mathrm{m}}^3$ to $57-104\times {10}^6 {\mathrm{m}}^3$ respectively. Such values correspond favorably to earlier estimates determined in the field or from other satellite data. Given the similarity of results, we then apply the same approach to the analysis of selected eruptions of five other basaltic volcanoes. Inversion of MODVOLC-derived time averaged discharge rates and volume data for Mount Etna eruptions in this study provides estimated magma chamber dimensions of ~2.2 to 2.6 km in radius for “lower” estimates (2.6 to 2.9 for “upper”), with an estimated total volume between ~45–74 ${\mathrm{k}\mathrm{m}}^3$ (“lower) and ~74–102 ${\mathrm{k}\mathrm{m}}^3$ (“upper”), which can inform plausible depth ranges at approximately 5 km when combined with petrologic/geodetic constraints. Full article

The Tianshan–Pamir mountain region, serving as the core “water tower” for countries in Central Asia east of the Aral Sea, is a critical bulwark for sustaining downstream socioeconomic systems. However, constrained by complex topography and harsh climatic conditions, this region suffers from a severe scarcity of long-term, continuous hydrological observation data. This study focuses on a typical data-scarce mountainous area, coupling UAV and satellite imagery-based (e.g., Landsat/Sentinel) flow inversion with a hybrid spatial regionalization method—integrating spatial proximity, basin similarity, and regression-based hydrograph reconstruction—to quantitatively estimate long-term discharge time series. The results indicate that, for the validation of instantaneous discharge inversion, the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) at 29 river cross-sections was consistently greater than 0.80, with the coefficient of determination (R²) reached 0.94 (p < 0.01). Subsequently, for the long-term discharge series reconstructed using the regionalization method, the NSE values at three representative verification sites—each corresponding to a distinct basin type—were 0.88, 0.84, and 0.86, respectively. These findings exhibit higher precision compared to direct temporal upscaling, confirming the reliability of the regionalization method across varying temporal scales. An analysis of monthly discharge trends from 1989 to 2020 revealed a decreasing trend in the discharge of glacier-dominated rivers, with an average rate of change of −2.89 ± 2.54% (p < 0.05); the Pamir Plateau experienced the largest decline (−4.89 ± 6.58%), which is closely linked to large-scale glacial retreat within the basins. Conversely, the discharge of non-glacier-dominated rivers showed an increasing trend, with a multi-year average rate of change of +0.32 ± 8.43% (n.s.), primarily driven by shifts in precipitation and vegetation cover. This research introduces a new approach for hydrological monitoring in data-scarce regions and provides essential data and methodological support for water resource management decisions in arid zones. Full article

Background/Objectives: Recent guidelines have emphasized the importance of early mobilization and rehabilitation of patients following cardiac surgery. However, studies on the optimal targets and prescription methods for phase I cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and utility of an early phase 1 submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) using a recumbent ergometer in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery. Methods: Twenty ambulatory patients who underwent cardiac surgery between December 2021 and February 2023 were referred to the CR department on the fifth postoperative day, and a CR program was initiated. The program was conducted five times a week, with hour-long sessions consisting of warm-up exercises, resistance training, aerobic exercises, and a cool-down period. A recumbent ergometer-based submaximal CPET was performed approximately nine days after the surgery, prior to discharge. Participants initiated the test at 0 W, and the workload was increased by 20 W after 2 min. During the test, researchers evaluated parameters including submaximal peak values of oxygen consumption (VO₂), metabolic equivalents of task, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The grip strength test, 6 min walk test (6MWT), Korean Activity Scale/Index (KASI), EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D), and short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36) values were also measured prior to discharge. Results: Twenty patients (75% male, average age 62.50 ± 1.99 years) underwent CPET at a median of 9.0 (8.0; 12.5) days postoperative. The average exercise duration of the CPET was 411.75 ± 168.25 s. During the test, their submaximal peak VO₂ was 12.32 ± 0.75 mL/kg/min (corresponding to 46.65 ± 2.08% of VO₂ max). The submaximal peak RER was 1.01 (0.98–1.12), and the submaximal peak RPE was 15.00 ± 0.51. Furthermore, the submaximal peak HR was 111.8 ± 3.76 beats/min (equivalent to 70.95 ± 2.09% of age-predicted maximal HR). After adjustment for age and sex, statistically significant positive correlations were observed between the submaximal peak VO₂ and 6MWT, squat endurance test, KASI, EQ-5D, and the physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire. The 6MWT, squat endurance test, KASI, and PCS of SF-36 showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.522 (p = 0.026), 0.628 (p = 0.005), 0.586 (p = 0.011), and 0.546 (p = 0.019), respectively. No significant cardiac events, such as ST elevation/depression or hemodynamic instability, were observed during the test. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that performing recumbent ergometer-based CPET during early phase 1 CR is safe and feasible. These results highlight the potential of recumbent ergometer-based CPET as a valuable tool for guiding the appropriate prescription of early CR programs following hospital discharge in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intoxication by psychoactive substances (PASs) in children, adolescents, and young adults is a growing public health concern, with evolving patterns of use and hospital presentation. This study aimed to analyze the trends in hospital admissions for PASs among children and youth aged 10 to 24 years in Slovenia during the 2013–2023 period. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study on patients discharged after hospitalization due to poisoning by PASs, according to ICD 10 AM. We considered four groups: children (aged 10–14), adolescents (aged 15–19) and young adults (20–21 and 22–24 years old). Annual hospitalization rates were stratified by sex, age group, and PAS category. The joinpoint regression model was used to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and annual percentage change (APC) response time trend. Results: Of those hospitalized, 52% were male and 65% were adolescents, followed by children (13%). A statistically significant decrease in alcohol-related hospitalizations was observed in the 10–14 and 15–19 age groups for both sexes in the period 2013–2023, while a statistically significant increasing trend was observed for alcohol in 22–24-year-old males during the period 2019–2023, and in multiple drug/other/unspecified PASs in the 15–19 age group in the period 2015–2023. Conclusions: Slovenia has some peculiarities in the abuse of PASs. Sex reversal phenomena are present already among children (especially for alcohol), and there are shifting risks in polydrug use in adolescents and emerging threats, as well as an increase in sedative or hypnotic poisoning in female adolescents since 2017. Full article