The purpose of this work was to synthesize and study catalytic systems based on a carbon-containing support obtained from coke fines from the Shubarkol deposit as a waste product of the coal industry for the processing of phenolic compounds. Based on the obtained carbon sorbent, mono- and binary catalysts with active phases of transition metal oxides (Fe, Co, Ni) were synthesized by wet impregnation, followed by heat treatment at 500-700 °C, as well as the aluminum oxide compositions. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersion analysis and elemental mapping (EDS mapping), and the content of active phases was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The catalytic activity was studied in phenol hydrogenation reactions. The CoO/C catalyst demonstrated the greatest activity, providing a 62.36% benzene yield during phenol hydrogenation. The catalytic activity of the CoO/C catalyst has also been studied in the hydrogenation reactions of structurally and functionally more complex compounds, pyrocatechol and resorcinol. The yield of benzene was 63.16% in the hydrogenation of pyrocatechol and 48.64% in the hydrogenation of resorcinol. It was found that the CoO/C catalyst exhibits the highest efficiency at a temperature of 420 °C, a pressure of 6-6.5 MPa and a reaction duration of 120 min. The results obtained make it possible to evaluate the prospects of using a carbon sorbent obtained from coke fines from the Shubarkol deposit as a support for CoO as part of an active and stable catalytic system designed for deep processing of phenolic compounds.
In many public settings, legal notices communicate fines for minor violations, often using different phrasings such as "up to," "maximum," "or below," or "range." This research examines whether these wording differences influence perceived severity and deterrence intentions. We hypothesized that up-to and maximum frames would elicit higher perceived severity than or-below and range frames, with the range frame yielding the lowest severity perceptions. We further anticipated that these effects would be mitigated for more serious offenses. Three preregistered between-subjects experiments (Study 1: N = 401; Study 2: N = 400; Study 3: N = 400; all U.K. adults) presented participants with public notice scenarios. Participants read a notice about a minor offense (littering) in Studies 1 and 2 and a more serious offense (vandalism) in Study 3. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four framing conditions and reported perceived severity, penalty estimates, and deterrence intentions. For the minor offense (Studies 1 and 2), up-to and maximum frames resulted in the highest perceived severity, followed by the or-below frame, with the range frame yielding the lowest. The range frame also resulted in significantly lower penalty estimates and weaker deterrence intentions. However, when the same framing manipulation was applied to a more serious offense (Study 3), these effects disappeared: framing did not significantly influence perceived severity, penalty expectations, or deterrence intentions. Fine-framing matters primarily when the offense is minor and the consequences are relatively ambiguous. As offenses become more serious, perceptions appear to be anchored by the inherent gravity of the violation, reducing sensitivity to wording differences. This research identifies a boundary condition for linguistic framing effects in legal communication and suggests that strategically chosen fine frames may serve as an effective, low-cost tool to promote compliance in everyday public behavior contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The valorization of industrial by-products in cementitious materials offers a viable pathway for reducing the environmental impact of concrete production. Limestone fines (LF) are commonly used as a filler or a cement replacement material in concrete; however, alternative recycled materials that support circular economy implementation at the industrial scale remain underexplored. This study investigates crushed concrete test sample (CTS) waste, systematically generated during quality‑control operations in a ready‑mix concrete plant located in Portugal, as a sustainable substitute for LF. CTS powder was used to replace cement at levels of 10–30% in mortar and 10–20% in concrete. Mechanical performance, durability, microstructural characteristics, and environmental impacts were evaluated and benchmarked against LF-containing and reference mixtures. Compressive strength results showed that cement replacement with CTS powder up to 10% produced strength values comparable to both the reference mix and LF-modified mixtures, whereas higher replacement levels resulted in significant strength loss. Durability assessments revealed that both CTS powder and LF at 10% replacement effectively reduced water sorptivity, indicating refinement of near-surface capillary pores, while increased chloride ion penetrability was observed at higher substitution levels. Microstructural analyses (SEM, XRD, and TGA) confirmed that CTS powder acts predominantly as an inert filler, increasing calcite content and promoting early-age nucleation. Life cycle assessment results demonstrated that partial cement replacement with CTS powder can reduce embodied CO2 emissions by up to approximately 17% at a 20% replacement level, with reductions comparable to those achieved using LF.
Fines are a common tool to enforce smoke-free policies, but they offer no direct support for quitting, a crucial step in reducing tobacco smoke at its source and improving health. In June 2020, South Korea introduced a policy offering fine waivers to individuals who violated smoke-free regulations if they enrolled in cessation programmes. We examined the characteristics and quit success rates of these participants. We analysed cohort data from 159 920 individuals enrolled in smoking cessation clinics at public health centres between June 2020 and July 2021. Participants were categorised into fine-exemption (n=984) and voluntary enrolment (n=158 936) groups. Their characteristics and quit success at 6 months were compared descriptively, and logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with 6-month cessation success. The fine-exemption group was younger (aged <30: 17.9% in the voluntary group, 41.9% in the exemption group, p<0.001), less likely to be covered by the national health insurance system (71.4% in the voluntary group and 59.7% in the exemption group, p<0.001), and had a higher proportion of non-response on education items (31.5% in the voluntary group and 38.2% in the fine-exemption group, p<0.001). Despite having lower smoking amounts, shorter smoking duration, and lower nicotine dependence, the exemption group showed lower success rates than the voluntary group (32.9% vs 26.3%; OR=0.67, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.78, p<0.001). The fine-waiver policy reached individuals who differed from typical cessation clinic users, suggesting potential to expand access. However, additional strategies are needed to enhance motivation and improve success rates among individuals enrolling for fine waivers.
During high-temperature in-flight flash reduction of iron ores, goethitic particles undergo rapid structural changes. This study examines the influence of goethite on pre-reduction performance in a drop-tube furnace, focusing on the hematite to magnetite reduction step. Three iron ores (OreA, OreB, and OreC) with distinct mineralogical and physical characteristics were reduced in N2 and atmospheres containing 95 % CO2 with 5 % CO or H2 at temperatures between 1658 and 1760 K. Compared to ores containing hematite as the sole iron-bearing phase, goethite-containing ores exhibit enhanced cracking and fragmentation during thermal decomposition, leading to changes in particle size and density. A comparison of OreB (lower goethite) and OreC (higher goethite) shows that the importance of particle residence time increases with goethite content. Higher pre-reduction was achieved at 80 ms for OreB and at 430 ms for OreC during thermal decomposition. Despite the use of reducing gases, reduction beyond magnetite was not observed due to large particle sizes (> 100 µm) and residence-time limitations of the drop-tube furnace. Further reduction (Fe3O4 → FeO) was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis. Across both experimental set-ups, thermal decomposition has a higher impact on the total reduction than the gas reduction. EBSD analysis identified two reaction mechanisms, internal pore diffusion and surface product layer diffusion. Balanced mineralogical properties (as in OreB) were found to be critical for effective early stage in-flight flash reduction.
Shear strength parameters such as friction angle and cohesion are fundamental to solving geotechnical engineering problems related to slope stability, foundation design, and earthwork construction. This study presents the prediction of friction angle (Fi) and cohesion (Nc) of an unsaturated lateritic soil using three intelligent learning techniques: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Radial Basis Function (RBF), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), with Linear Multivariate Regression (LMR) adopted as a baseline model to evaluate agreement between input and output variables. The motivation for employing machine learning approaches stems from the limitations of complex laboratory testing and the need for reliable predictive tools that can support design and field applications. The investigated soil, classified as A-7-6 and poorly graded, exhibited coefficients of uniformity and curvature of 2.05 and 0.84, respectively. It was characterized by high plasticity and significant clay content, with a clay fraction of 23.02%, clay activity of 2, friction angle of 15°, maximum dry density of 1.84 g/cm3 at an optimum moisture content of 16.2%, and was tested under cyclic direct shear conditions. Multiple datasets were generated from varying treatment conditions and soil descriptors, forming the basis for model development. Eleven input parameters were used to predict Fi and Nc, and model performance was evaluated using Variance Accounted For (VAF), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The results indicate that RBF and MLP outperformed SVM and LMR in both training and testing phases for predicting cohesion and friction angle, demonstrating superior generalization capability. Sensitivity analysis using the Cosine Domain Method revealed that unsaturated unit weight had the greatest influence on friction angle prediction, while clay content was the most influential parameter for cohesion. Among all models, MLP achieved the highest accuracy and overall predictive performance. Based on this optimal model, a Graphical User Interface was developed to enable users to input soil parameters and obtain rapid predictions, providing a practical tool for researchers and practitioners in geotechnical engineering.
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Adhesive dry powder coating is widely applied in pharmaceutical and particulate processing. Achieving a uniform distribution of fines of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) on carrier surfaces remains challenging due to complex particle-particle and particle-wall interactions. This study employs the discrete element method (DEM) coupled with a triboelectrification model to investigate the dynamics and electrification mechanisms governing adhesive mixing in a high-shear mixer. The particle motion, charge evolution, and their combined influence on coating performance are analysed. Results show that while electrostatic forces have minimal impact on particle velocity and power draw, they exert a pronounced effect on mesoscale mixing behaviour. Bipolar charging among carriers leads to strong spatial heterogeneity, causing fines to concentrate locally and substantially reducing coating uniformity. Modifying the impeller and vessel surfaces using materials with work functions closer to that of fines causes favourable charge transfer and enhances coating uniformity. On the other hand, increasing the impeller rotational speed increases the specific charge level of fines, intensifies charge-driven segregation, and results in less uniform API attachment. The study highlights the critical role of electrostatics in adhesive mixing and demonstrates how controlling wall work function and rotational speed can significantly improve mixture homogeneity.
Speeding remains a major contributory factor to traffic crashes, making the design of effective penalty schemes a critical policy concern. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate driver preferences regarding penalties for speeding violations in Greece: (Option A) immediate fines with off-road short detention (administrative process); (Option B) attendance of compulsory road safety seminars; and (Option C) judicial processes with possible dispute of fines in court. Data were collected via a Stated Choice (SC) survey conducted during June and July 2023 in Greece, involving 161 participants resulting in 805 choice situations, and were analyzed by utilizing a random parameter multinomial logit model to capture unobserved heterogeneity among drivers. Results showed that only 4.6% of respondents preferred the judicial process, indicating a strong deterrent effect of potential trial and associated costs. For Option A, statistically significant results included the monetary fine and penalty points, as well as the compulsory detention time off-road. For Option B, time and cost of road safety awareness seminars were significant. For the administrative process (monetary fine), the value that respondents were willing to pay to save 1 h of waiting off-road, was significantly higher (from 81.46 to 82.69 euros per hour) when compared to the driving education and awareness seminars (from 0.356 to 1.18 euros per hour), suggesting that drivers show a preference for higher monetary fines rather than being subjected to an off-road delay imposed by the police officer. The findings point towards more effective enforcement strategies while balancing penalty costs and duration of compulsory off-road detention and promoting educational-related non-punitive measures. The study could inform policymakers in designing and integrating a more diverse range of speeding penalties that align with driver preferences, potentially improving compliance, acceptability and better road safety outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Corporate misconduct is a ubiquitous issue, especially acute in economies undergoing transition. In China, the government has progressively refined its regulatory hotline system, while online new media have gained widespread traction. Employees often expose misconduct within enterprises through these external channels, resulting in serious damage to enterprises’ reputation. Conversely, if employees report internally and enterprises respond actively, it not only curbs misconducts but also reduces enterprises’ losses and government regulatory costs. This paper argues that employees’ strategy in choosing whistleblowing channels, enterprises’ management strategy, and the government’s regulatory strategy are the dynamic results of long-term learning and improvement through tripartite game. METHODS: Drawing on the theories of good governance and incentive regulation, we constructed a 2 × 2 × 2 tripartite evolutionary game model. Employees choose between internal and external whistleblowing; enterprise management opt for either active or passive management; and the government selects either strict or relaxed regulation. In addition, we employed numerical simulation to investigate the evolutionary dynamics among these three parties. RESULTS: This study identified an ideal and realistic stable state in the system: the government enforces strict regulation, enterprises adopt active management, and employees choose internal whistleblowing. Reducing the government’s financial rewards for whistleblowers or lowering the probability of whistleblower identity disclosure facilitates the system's evolution towards this ideal state. Conversely, high whistleblowing rewards offered by enterprises, increased fines imposed on enterprises, or higher government costs for misconduct rectification exert only transient effects. CONCLUSION: Offering high rewards to whistleblowers, imposing heavy fines on enterprises and having the government shoulder excessive rectification costs are ineffective in the long run. In contrast, reducing government whistleblowing rewards and safeguarding whistleblowers’ personal information are both effective measures. Therefore, we recommend that the government provide moderate whistleblowing rewards and impose moderate fines for corporate misconduct, while ensuring that enterprises take primary responsibility for rectifying misconducts. Enterprises, in turn, should focus not on high monetary rewards but on strengthening the protection of whistleblowers’ personal information.
The rapid growth of the food delivery sector has created job opportunities, particularly for young and low-income workers, but has also introduced new road safety challenges. To examine these risks, this study adapted and extended the Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ) to reflect the unique behaviors of food delivery riders. A 62-item MRBQ was developed through literature review and focus group discussions, and data were collected via an offline survey from 524 riders in Hanoi, Vietnam. The adapted MRBQ was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to identify key dimensions of risky riding behavior, followed by a multivariate probit model to examine their associations with self-reported crashes, near-crashes, and fines. The analysis revealed six behavioral dimensions: traffic errors, safety violations, distractions, traffic violations, speeding violations, and control errors. Notably, the emergence of 'distractions' and 'traffic violations', linked to mobile phone use and frequent signal and lane breaches, highlights risk specific to app-based delivery work. The absence of the stunts factor, characterized by thrill-seeking behaviors, among food delivery riders further differentiates them from recreational or non-occupational riders, highlighting their more work-oriented and goal-driven riding style. The results further showed that older age, lower education, higher income, and lack of formal training were significantly associated with increased self-reported safety incidents, including crashes, near-crashes, and fines. Key behavioral predictors of these incidents were distractions, speeding, and traffic violations. The findings reinforce existing road safety recommendations by providing context-specific empirical evidence for food delivery riders, highlighting the continued importance of rider training and delivery platform designs that prioritize safety alongside efficiency in urban gig-economy settings.
Fine-particle loss in earth-rock dams can induce abnormal grout diffusion during rehabilitation. To address this issue, we investigated the influence of fine particle content on grouting efficiency in coarse-grained materials. Using transparent soil technology, coarse-grained materials were simulated with fused quartz sand and a refractive-index-matched pore fluid (n = 1.4585). Dyed epoxy resin was used as a cement grout analog. Constant-pressure grouting tests (40 kPa) were performed on three test conditions representing no fine-particle loss, partial fine-pareicle loss, and complete fine-particle loss. The grout diffusion process was visualized and quantified using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results reveal that fine particle content critically controls grout diffusion patterns and rates. (1) Excessive fines cause pore clogging, resulting in grout upwelling, surface seepage, and limited diffusion, forming locally consolidated masses with blocky bonding. (2) An appropriate fine particle content enables uniform spherical diffusion, creating an optimized structure characterized by point bonding of large particles and small-pore filling. (3) The absence of fines leads to gravity-dominated rapid settlement with weak horizontal diffusion, leaving only surface-coated particles. This study elucidates the coupled mechanisms of fine-particle migration, clogging, and grout diffusion, providing an experimental basis for optimizing permeation grouting in coarse aggregates.
Fine-grained chalk reservoirs in the North Sea (NS) commonly experience fines migration or particle production, or both, leading to production issues like formation damage and reduced production. This study aims to improve the strength of chalk to mitigate fines migration and particle production using a novel chemical consolidation technique, utilizing Austin chalk (AC) outcrop samples and samples from producing reservoir chalk units from the Danish NS. Two cylindrical AC plugs and four downhole cores from the NS, each measuring 3.8 cm in diameter, were treated with a 1 M diammonium phosphate ((NH4)2HPO4) solution at elevated temperatures (75 °C). The samples were placed in a vacuum-sealed steel cell, pressurized to 6.9 MPa, and aged for 72 h to transform calcite (CaCO3) into the harder hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH). Rock strength was assessed before and after treatment using a non-destructive impulse hammer. Mineralogical changes were examined via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Permeability and porosity were also measured pre-and post-treatment. In addition, Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) analysis was performed on the solution, and Gas Chromatography (GC) was utilized to analyze the gas phase, providing insights into the interactions between calcite and diammonium phosphate (DAP). DAP treatment markedly enhanced the stiffness of AC by up to 312% and of NS chalk by up to 53%, primarily due to the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) micron-sized crystals forming interparticle cements. SEM, EDS, and XRD confirmed HAP formation, leading to hardening by altering calcite. While effective porosity remained unchanged, permeability decreased after treatment. The reaction was markedly more effective on AC samples due to their overall higher permeability and lower initial strength than reservoir samples. These results, if applied within a reservoir, can help mitigate particle production and fines migration issues, improving operational efficiency, reducing production challenges and may be applicable to other fine-grained carbonate reservoirs.
Fracturing flowback plays a vital role in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoir development, but field flowback rates are still commonly selected based on operational experience and are therefore difficult to generalize across wells. To move beyond a field-application description, this study develops a mechanics-based and parameterized framework for estimating the allowable flowback-rate window after hydraulic fracturing. The model incorporates the post-break viscosity of the fracturing fluid and formulates the critical particle-mobilization condition from the force balance acting on coal fines and proppant before and after fracture closure. Instead of calibrating an empirical correlation for a single block, the method uses measurable or literature-constrained inputs, including particle size and density, fluid density and viscosity, fracture pressure differential, wetting-phase saturation, and contact-mechanics coefficients. Field parameters from two CBM wells are used as demonstrative cases to implement the workflow and to examine whether the calculated operating window is consistent with realistic field flowback-rate magnitudes. The calculated critical proppant flowback velocity ranges from 3.6 to 498 m³/day before fracture closure and 36-890 m³/day after closure, while the minimum velocity required to mobilize coal fines increases with particle size. Sensitivity analysis identifies particle radius, post-closure pressure differential, particle density, fluid viscosity, and wetting-phase saturation as the dominant controlling factors. Larger and denser particles increase the required flowback velocity, whereas higher fluid viscosity reduces it by enhancing drag. Capillary forces promote particle mobilization, while friction becomes the primary resisting force after fracture closure. Because no new laboratory flowback experiment is conducted in this work, the model is not claimed to be fully experimentally validated; instead, its reliability is supported by transparent parameterization, literature-constrained coefficients, order-of-magnitude comparison with reported flowback rates, and systematic sensitivity analysis. The proposed workflow provides a transferable screening tool for selecting flowback rates that balance early cleanup efficiency and long-term fracture conductivity in CBM and other propped-fracture operations.
Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is widely gaining popularity as a bio-mediated technique for soil stabilisation and recycling in an eco-friendly way. In the present study, MICP was employed to enhance the geotechnical properties of coal mine waste, a heterogeneous waste material unsuitable for engineering applications. To ensure the field-scale applicability of MICP and to address the shortcomings of the uniform distribution of calcite precipitations in high-fines-content matrices, a novel bacterial incorporation strategy was developed. This approach employed a native ureolytic bacterium, Sporosarcina pasteurii PS3A cells, for calcium carbonate precipitation through urea hydrolysis, resulting in the formation of mineral bridges that improved particle binding and reduced permeability. The chemical composition of the biogenic precipitate under different treatment conditions was probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and its morphology was assessed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. A ~ 17-fold increase in unconfined compressive strength in samples containing 22% fines was observed post-treatment. Optimisation of bacterial concentrations and cementitious solution molarity enabled precise control over volumetric shrinkage, which was reduced to 1-5%, improving dimensional stability across treated soils. The ultrasonic pulse velocity testing confirmed cementation, with a strong empirical correlation to unconfined compressive strength. These findings establish the necessity and effectiveness of targeted methodologies for applying MICP to fine-grained industrial wastes, advancing its viability as a sustainable alternative to conventional stabilisation techniques within the framework of the circular economy and low-carbon geotechnical engineering.
Healthy default beverage (HDB) policies, which require restaurants to offer healthier drinks with children's meals, may reduce child sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Although they are gaining popularity across the United States, restaurant awareness and compliance remains low, warranting deeper investigation into policy guidance and implementer knowledge. To examine implementing agencies' awareness of HDB policies, the prevalence of implementation and enforcement practices and their alignment with policy documents, and challenges to implementation and enforcement. We used a mixed-methods approach combining an analysis of HDB policy documents and an online survey of implementers across jurisdictions with state or local policies. A codebook was developed to assess implementation and enforcement provisions in policy documents. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize survey-reported practices, and we examined alignment between these practices and the corresponding policy language. Nineteen policy documents (4 state, 15 local) and 64 survey responses from unique jurisdictions were analyzed. Among jurisdictions, 46 (72%) were knowledgeable about their policy. Most state jurisdictions (86%) and all local jurisdictions reported using a communication strategy regardless of inclusion in policy documents. Restaurant compliance was typically assessed through in-person restaurant visits (state: 78%; local: 42%). Equity-related implementation considerations included additional time for policy implementation (state: 43%; local: 60%) and technical support (state: 72%; local: 60%). Most state (67%) and local (73%) jurisdictions reported issuing warnings and fines for enforcement. Equity considerations for enforcement were reported for some state jurisdictions (27%) and included additional time to become compliant (75%) and issuing warnings without escalating to fines (25%). Implementation misalignment between practices and documents often reflected jurisdictions exceeding policy documents, whereas enforcement misalignment between practices and documents often involved inconsistent or incorrect use of the enforcement strategy in the policy document and misalignment of reported funding allocation. Although jurisdictions frequently expanded beyond written implementation requirements, enforcement knowledge and practices inconsistent with policy documents highlight potential gaps in resources, training, and infrastructure. Efforts to bolster implementer capacity and promote equitable approaches may increase the ability of localities to implement and enforce HDB policies.
Unlicensed medical practices (UMPs) pose a substantial threat to patient safety and public health, but their clandestine nature makes them difficult to monitor through conventional surveillance systems. Legal epidemiology offers a framework for using judicial data to study hidden health-related misconduct, and machine learning (ML) may help convert unstructured legal texts into analyzable public health information. This study aimed to characterize prosecuted UMP cases in South Korea using a legal infoveillance framework and evaluate the utility of ML-assisted extraction from criminal court decisions for public health surveillance. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 1532 criminal court decisions involving UMP-related convictions in South Korea between 2005 and 2023. Using an ML-assisted extraction pipeline with human-in-the-loop verification, we transformed unstructured judicial texts into structured legal and medical variables. Analyses were conducted at the case, charge, defendant category, and legal ruling levels. In addition to descriptive analyses, we performed exploratory inferential analyses to examine factors associated with legal rulings and professionals' involvement. Of 1718 charge entries, 987 (57.5%) were related to Article 5 of the Act on Special Measures for the Control of Public Health Crimes, and 731 (42.5%) were related to Article 27(1) of the Medical Service Act. Profit motive was coded in 91.6% (1404/1532) of the cases. At the legal ruling level (n=2004 entries), suspended sentences, meaning sentences whose execution was conditionally suspended under Korean criminal law, were the most common outcome (1261/2004, 62.9%), followed by fines (421/2004, 21%) and imprisonment without suspension (209/2004, 10.4%). Of 1716 defendant category entries, ordinary persons accounted for 1294 (75.4%), health care professionals accounted for 264 (15.4%), and health care providers accounted for 158 (9.2%). Physicians were the largest subgroup among health care professionals. In exploratory multinomial models, licensed personnel-only and mixed ordinary person and licensed personnel cases were more likely than ordinary person-only cases to result in fines or imprisonment without suspension rather than suspended sentences. Secondary exploratory analyses also suggested distinctive patterns of professional involvement and possible scope-of-practice or delegation-related boundary violations. ML-assisted analysis of criminal court decisions can serve as a useful supplementary surveillance method for hidden UMPs. In South Korea, prosecuted UMPs were predominantly profit driven and involved both ordinary persons and licensed personnel. The findings support closer monitoring of scope-of-practice and delegation-related violations and demonstrate the value of judicial records as a source of public health intelligence.
The manufacture of cement contributes significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere. The effects of mineral admixtures (iron dust, glass fines, metakaolin, and limestone fines) make them suitable for reducing carbon emissions as a replacement for cement. All mineral admixtures (MA) are byproducts of primary materials, and natural fiber is included. This study focuses on a sustainable material that does not compromise strength. This paper analyzes the properties of self-healing concrete developed using MA Bacillus tropicus and sisal fiber. Three different percentages of MA, 10%, 20%, and 30%, and 1% of sisal fiber were used by weight of cement. Bacteria were incorporated into the concrete using the direct addition method, in which the healing solution (a combination of a 1:9 bacterial-to-nutrient ratio) was added directly to the concrete. A total of five mixes of concrete control C0, bacterial control CB, 10% MA CB10, 20% MA CB20, and 30% MA CB30 were cast. Thus, 1% sisal fiber was constant for all mixes. The self-healing concrete's (SHC) performance was assessed through sorptivity, porosity, water absorption, acid resistance, crack-healing efficiency (CHE), compressive strength (CS), splitting tensile strength (STS), regain compressive strength (RCS), and microstructural morphology analysis. The economic and environmental benefits are evaluated. A comparative analysis of the experimental results showed positive results up to a 20% replacement after declination, but not to a level below the reference mix. Adding fiber significantly increases tensile strength, achieving a 3 to 13% improvement over the control mix, and supports bacterial survival within the concrete environment. Optimal concrete mixtures of 20% were suggested, and the specimens showed improvements of 15.45% in CS, 12.53% in STS, and 90.96% in RCS compared to control concrete specimens. The recovery ratio can exceed 80% for all mixes except the control specimen. The economic analyses identified reduced maintenance costs and lower carbon emissions. The microstructural analysis confirms the presence of bacteria, as well as calcium carbonate and calcite.
Efficient utilization of straw resources addresses both resource scarcity and environmental degradation while promoting green development. Despite China's abundant straw resources, uneven spatial distribution and practical challenges in collection, storage, and transportation (CS&T) limit large-scale utilization and pose rural public health risks due to improper disposal. This study integrates government, straw-specialized cooperatives, and farmers into a unified analytical framework and applies evolutionary game theory to examine strategic choices and dynamic interactions among stakeholders in the CS&T process. Key factors analyzed include government regulation costs, subsidy rewards, straw collection and transportation costs, and sales revenues. The results indicate that subsidy rewards and sales revenues are the most significant drivers of stakeholder participation. Moderately increasing subsidies and rewards, while appropriately reducing fines, lowers participation costs for cooperatives and farmers, promoting active involvement and reducing open-air burning. Reducing government regulation costs, improving subsidy allocation accuracy, and moderately increasing fines enhance supervision efficiency. Stakeholder strategies are interconnected in a dynamic feedback system, forming a collaborative cycle of "field collection, centralized storage, standardized transportation, and resource recycling," which improves CS&T efficiency. Long-term policy effectiveness requires a scientifically designed incentive mechanism, with subsidies increased but capped at no more than twice the current standard, balancing motivation, fiscal sustainability, and policy feasibility. This study clarifies multi-stakeholder interaction mechanisms and offers theoretical and practical guidance for optimizing straw resource utilization and strengthening rural public health governance.
Lasers are commonly used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. While traditional 1550-nm resurfacing lasers can be limited by their delivery mechanism, a newer 1550-nm nonablative resurfacing laser was recently developed, which uses a novel conical beam delivery system for high-energy treatments. To evaluate the utility of this novel 1550-nm nonablative resurfacing laser that uses Focal Point Technology to improve fine lines and wrinkles in Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI with high-energy delivery. A retrospective, multicenter clinical data review evaluated this device for fine lines and wrinkles by Fitzpatrick Wrinkle and Elastosis Scale with 3 blinded physician reviewers and blinded photographic identification. Thirty-three subjects were treated. Mean age was 56.7 years, and 84.8% were women. Subjects had significant overall improvement in pooled Fitzpatrick Wrinkle and Elastosis Scale score (4.48 vs 3.36; p < .001). For blinded photographic evaluation, 2 of 3 reviewers were in agreement for correct identification of 81.8% of subjects. Treatments were well-tolerated, and there were no serious unanticipated adverse events. This new-generation 1550-nm nonablative resurfacing laser that uses Focal Point Technology with high-energy delivery is safe and effective in the treatment of fines lines and wrinkles in diverse Fitzpatrick skin types.