Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health concern in the entire world, and community health workers (CHWs) are the main frontline staff in disease control initiatives. Conventional approaches of training CHWs are usually limited in their ability to scale, to standardization as well as knowledge retention. The research examined the efficacy of the blended learning method that is the digital module with practical learning face-to-face sessions in the area of TB-related community health education. A quasi-experimental, three-arm comparative study was conducted among 248 CHWs, with training modality assigned by district to minimize contamination (blended learning n = 84; traditional n = 82; e-learning n = 82). The main outcomes were TB knowledge scores, competency of skills in practice, knowledge retention after 6 months and satisfaction of the participants. Given district-level allocation, sensitivity analyses accounting for clustering were performed. E-learning-only exposure time (12h) was shorter than the 20h blended/traditional formats; findings are interpreted accordingly. The findings showed that the blended learning group had significantly higher knowledge scores of post-training (82.4 ± 8.7) than traditional (74.6 ± 9.2) and e-learning groups (71.8 ± 10.1) (p < 0.001). The knowledge retention of blended learning was 78.2% and traditional was 62.4% and e-learning was 58.7%. The greatest rates of practical skill competencies were observed in the group of blended learning (88.1) than in the traditional (79.3) and e-learning (64.6) groups. The level of satisfaction among participants was also higher in the blended learning group (4.32 ± 0.51 on a 5-point scale). The blended learning model proves to be more effective to CHW training in TB control programs, and it provides a scalable and efficient framework of community health education in variable resource environments.
Intercultural communication and collaboration in healthcare are becoming increasingly essential for addressing complex global health and medical issues. This trend has increased the demands placed on nursing students' cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competence in diverse healthcare settings. To examine the effectiveness of task-driven blended learning in cultivating nursing students' cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competence. This quasi-experimental study used cluster randomisation to assign two intact classes to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received task-driven blended learning developed based on the outcome-based education concept, whereas the control group received conventional blended learning. Participants' cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competence were assessed before and after the intervention using the Cultural Intelligence Scale and the Intercultural Communication Competence Scale, respectively. Analysis of covariance was employed as the primary statistical method to evaluate intervention effects while controlling for baseline scores. After adjustment for baseline scores, the task-driven blended learning group had significantly higher post-intervention scores than the conventional blended learning group in the overall scores for both cultural intelligence (F = 59.56, P < 0.001, ηₚ2 = 0.293) and intercultural communication competence (F = 39.18, P < 0.001, ηₚ2 = 0.214). These significant between-group differences were consistent across all subdimensions (all P < 0.001), with the largest effect sizes observed in the motivation dimension of cultural intelligence (ηₚ2 = 0.184) and the situational ability dimension of intercultural communication competence (ηₚ2 = 0.186). The task-driven blended learning approach was associated with significant improvements in nursing students' cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competence. These findings suggest that adopting task-driven blended learning in intercultural nursing courses may be a promising approach for supporting cultural competence training and meeting the growing demands of intercultural nursing education.
Blending insulating polymers with conjugated polymers has been reported to significantly improve charge transport in thin films by modifying molecular aggregation and film morphology. However, the underlying mechanism for this improvement is still not fully understood. Herein, we investigate the charge transport properties of a thiophene-based conjugated polymer (J61) blended with two insulating polymers, polystyrene (PS) and cyclic olefin copolymer (ZEONEX), which possess distinct solubility parameters. Particular attention is paid to film-formation kinetics and the resulting phase-separated structures. We find that blending J61 with PS significantly shortens the solidification time of J61 domains and more effectively suppresses the formation of H-aggregates compared to blending with ZEONEX. This rapid solidification kinetically preserves the solution-state planar backbone conformation of J61, resulting in superior hole mobility relative to both the J61 neat film and J61/ZEONEX blend film. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how insulating polymers regulate film-formation kinetics and molecular aggregation, offering a rational strategy for enhancing charge transport in conjugated polymers through controlled phase separation.
Durable polylactide (PLA)-based materials are highly pursued for replacing conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, developing a tough and heat-resistant PLA blend remains a significant challenge. Herein, a series of high-performance PLA-based blends were prepared through melt blending of bio-based polycarbonate (PC), poly-(d-lactic acid) (PDLA), and a compatibilizer (BPM). Phase morphology, crystallization behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal resistance were systematically analyzed. A novel dual heat-resistant network was constructed, comprising a continuous PC phase and PDLA/PLA stereocomplexation. In this network, the stereocomplexation creates a 3D network restricting the amorphous PLA chain mobility, while the PC phase acts as a heat-resistant framework, collectively enhancing thermal stability. Moreover, the addition of BPM enhances the toughness and interfacial adhesion between PC and PLA phases, resulting in substantial improvements in mechanical properties. The optimized blend achieved a heat deflection temperature of 106.5 °C, an impact strength of 7.5 kJ/m2, and an elongation at break of 113.6%.
Antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) are being phased out in poultry production, leading to the search for functional non-nutritive additives. Synbiotic blends, such as the BBG complex, can enhance gut health and resilience against environmental stressors, particularly suboptimal water quality and heat stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a synbiotic blend (BBG) comprising Bacillus spp., β-glucans, and β-mannans as a non-nutritive immunostimulant on the productive performance and physiological parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 264 one-day-old Ross broiler chickens were distributed into two treatments (n = 132 each) with three replicates of 44 birds each, covering three phases (pre-starter, starter, and finisher). The control group received a commercial diet, whereas the BBG group received a dietary inclusion (5%) of a conglomerate comprising Bacillus subtilis (10%-14%), Bacillus toyonensis (10%-14%), Bacillus licheniformis (13%-17%), Heyndrickxia coagulans (10%-14%), Shouchella clausii (13%-17%), β-glucans (1%-5%), β-mannans (1%-5%). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Physicochemical analyses were performed on the feed and water, while production parameters (i.e., initial and final body weight (BW), daily feed intake, BW gain, feed conversion ratio, and mortality) were evaluated. Hematological and biochemical analyses were performed weekly. Physicochemical analysis confirmed that the drinking water deviated from regulatory standards, exhibiting a lack of residual chlorine, slightly acidic pH, and elevated nitrate levels. BBG administration enhanced overall productive performance, yielding higher final BW and weight gain, alongside a noteworthy reduction in mortality during the pre-starter phase. Hematological analysis showed marked leukocytosis and elevated liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin) in both treatments, confirming active environmental stress. Although BBG treatment did not completely normalize these stress indicators, it improved the birds´ resilience and enhanced feed efficiency during the initial stages. The BBG synbiotic blend is a viable alternative to conventional AGPs, improving productivity and early viability under challenging field conditions characterized by high temperatures and suboptimal water quality.
The declining availability of conventional supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), particularly fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), has created a need to identify alternative low-carbon binders for cement-based materials. In this context, emerging SCMs such as lithium refining residue, known as delithiated beta spodumene (DBS), and highly reactive metakaolin (HRM) offer potential for reducing cement consumption while maintaining engineering performance. This study investigates the optimisation of blended binder systems based on a reference binary blend of 75% ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and 25% FA, aimed at reducing embodied carbon (EC) while maintaining satisfactory flowability and compressive strength. Two series of experiments were conducted: the first incorporated FA, DBS, and HRM, and the second incorporated FA, GGBFS, and HRM. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was adopted to design the experimental programme and evaluate the effects of the selected parameters on flowability and compressive strength. Grey relational analysis was then used to determine the optimal combination of responses, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess the relative influence of the individual parameters. The results indicate that HRM had a strong influence on early-age strength development, while the DBS material investigated in this study showed promising performance as a partial replacement material within the selected mortar-scale blended binder system. The optimum mix within the selected experimental domain in the first series comprised 63.75% cement, 21.25% FA, 10% DBS, and 5% HRM, while the optimum mix in the second series comprised 60% cement, 20% FA, 15% GGBFS, and 5% HRM. The embodied carbon of the optimum binder mixes was 264 and 261 kgCO2e per 450 kg of binder, respectively, representing reductions of 35% and 36% compared with the pure GP cement system.
Genetic disorders presenting during the prenatal period are often complex, with overlapping phenotypes that pose significant diagnostic challenges. The increasing use of advanced fetal imaging modalities such as targeted imaging for fetal anomalies and high-resolution ultrasonography has enabled early identification of structural anomalies suggestive of syndromic conditions. However, correlating radiological findings with underlying genetic alterations remains difficult, particularly when variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) are detected. A VUS classification means that there is insufficient or conflicting evidence regarding a molecular alteration's role in disease. VUSs are categorized by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics within a five-tier system that also includes pathogenic, likely pathogenic, likely benign, and benign variants. The clinical interpretation of VUS is a recognized limitation in prenatal genetics, as these variants lack sufficient evidence for definitive pathogenic or benign classification, yet may contribute to phenotypic variability. Disorders such as Marfan syndrome (MFS), acromicric dysplasia (ACMICD), and coloboma, heart defects, ichthyosiform dermatosis, mental retardation, and ear anomalies (CHIME) syndrome are genetically heterogeneous and share overlapping clinical features, complicating precise delineation. Furthermore, the absence of parental genotyping often restricts the assessment of de novo variants and allelic segregation. In such scenarios, integrating fetal imaging, genomic sequencing, and functional predictive scores becomes essential to guide counseling and management. Reporting novel and blended phenotypes with VUS contributes to the growing body of evidence, facilitating refinement of variant classification and aiding clinical decision-making in subsequent pregnancies. We hereby report a case of fetus purporting as a blended phenotype with multiple skeletal and cardiac defects that harbors a heterozygous VUS in the FBN1 gene and a novel, homozygous VUS in the PIGL gene. The index patient is a spontaneously aborted 21-week-old fetus of a nonconsanguineously married couple. Grossly, it had retrognathia, low-set ears, cleft palate, depressed nasal bridge, and short neck. Targeted anomaly scan at 20 weeks of gestation showed the possibility of short-limb dwarfism, skeletal dysplasia with narrow thorax likely to be lethal, short and broad neck, congenital cardiac anomaly (tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis), bilateral gross hydronephrosis and hydroureter, absent nasal bone, flat midface, micrognathia, and low-set ears, dilated cisterna magna, vermian agenesis, and Blake's pouch cyst. The fetal whole-genome sequence was found to harbor an autosomal dominant, heterozygous VUS in the FBN1 gene at exon 18 associated with MFS and ACMICD. It also had an autosomal recessive homozygous VUS, possibly a mutational "hot spot" in the PIGL gene at exon 1 associated with CHIME syndrome. De novo status of the variants cannot be ascertained, as parental genotyping could not be performed. Postgenetic test counseling was performed for the couple and was informed of the chances of affection with the same in subsequent offsprings. Based on VUS, important clinical management decisions or prenatal diagnosis are not recommended unless strongly correlated with the phenotype. CHIME syndrome is known to be expressed in homozygosity, while the autosomally dominant FBN1 gene mutation can manifest in heterozygosity. The presence of VUS variants in this case provides a genotype-phenotypic correlation to say that the variants might be the disease-causing ones. In the absence of a parental genomic study, the chance of co-inheritance of the variants in successive pregnancies ranges from 25% to 100%. Prenatal testing options in future pregnancies may be considered. RésuméLes maladies génétiques survenant pendant la période prénatale sont souvent complexes, avec des phénotypes chevauchants qui posent d’importants défis diagnostiques. L’utilisation croissante de modalités d’imagerie fœtale avancées, telles que l’échographie ciblée pour les anomalies fœtales, a permis l’identification précoce d’anomalies structurelles suggestives de conditions syndromiques. Cependant, la corrélation des résultats radiologiques avec les altérations génétiques sous-jacentes reste difficile, en particulier lorsque des variants de signification incertaine (VUS) sont détectés. Nous rapportons ici un cas de fœtus présentant un phénotype mixte avec de multiples anomalies squelettiques et cardiaques, porteur d’un VUS hétérozygote dans le gène FBN1 et d’un nouveau VUS homozygote dans le gène PIGL. L’échographie ciblée à 20 semaines a montré la possibilité d’un nanisme micromélique, une dysplasie squelettique, une anomalie cardiaque congénitale (tétralogie de Fallot), et des anomalies cranio-faciales. En l’absence d’étude génomique parentale, le risque de co-héritage dans les grossesses ultérieures varie de 25% à 100%. Des options de test prénatal lors de futures grossesses peuvent être envisagées.
Mental health challenges are common among college students, highlighting the need for scalable approaches that aim to reduce distress and support well-being. mHealth tools may complement campus services, though sustained engagement may be difficult. This study sought to discover how a blended intervention combining an mHealth positive psychology intervention (PPI) app with optional wellness coaching might impact student well-being. In this single-arm pilot study, 28 students at a public university were given access to a PPI app (Roadmap 2.0) with mood tracking, a Fitbit® wearable device, and optional wellness coaching. Data sources included PROMIS® surveys at baseline and monthly follow-ups, daily mood ratings, app engagement logs, wearable-derived activity metrics, coaching attendance, and optional exit interviews. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory. From baseline to exit, participants showed descriptive increases in PROMIS® global mental health and positive affect and decreases in depression, anxiety, fatigue, and anger. App engagement declined over time. In exploratory models, app engagement was lower among participants reporting greater psychosocial resources or support. Mood ratings were higher in the days following PPI activity completion, and PPI activity users were observed to have higher mood ratings over time. Interviews supported perceived app-coaching synergy and identified barriers to sustained engagement. A blended PPI mHealth app plus wellness coaching appears feasible in a real-world college setting and was associated with favorable descriptive trends in mental health and well-being outcomes. Controlled studies are needed to evaluate efficacy and assess app versus coaching contributions.
To evaluate the effectiveness of a twelve-month smartphone-assisted physiotherapy (SmArt-E) intervention versus usual care in hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to assess usability and patient satisfaction with the digital support. We conducted a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel-group randomized controlled trial in 27 physiotherapy practices in Germany. Patients with physician-diagnosed hip and/or knee OA aged ≥50 (hip) or ≥38 years (knee) were randomly allocated to SmArt-E (IG; n=166) or usual care (CG; n=164). The twelve-month intervention combined supervised and smartphone-assisted training and education (blended care). Primary outcomes were pain (NRS, 0-10) and physical function (HOOS/KOOS-ADL, 0-100) at twelve months. Secondary outcomes followed OARSI domains; usability and patient satisfaction were also assessed. Among 330 participants (mean age 64±8 years), baseline NRS was 3.2±2.3 in the CG and 3.5±2.4 in the IG; HOOS/KOOS-ADL was 71.6±17.7 and 69.4±17.5, respectively. No significant between-group differences were found for pain (-0.36; 95% CI: -0.84 to 0.12; p=0.14) or physical function (2.66; 95% CI: -0.46 to 5.77; p=0.09). Among 13 secondary outcomes, significant differences favouring the IG emerged at three and twelve months for several domains; however, effect sizes were small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful. SmArt-E did not demonstrate superior effectiveness over usual care in mild hip and/or knee OA. Both groups improved over time, with slightly more favourable but clinically inconclusive outcomes in the IG. Findings highlight the need to refine the intervention, better identify eligible patients, and optimize digital and in-person components.
Blended therapy (BT) combines digital applications with face-to-face treatment and has become an increasingly important component of psychiatric care. Evidence indicates that BT can achieve outcomes comparable to or even superior to those of traditional face-to-face therapy. Despite certain advantages, routine implementation of BT remains challenging, and clinical practice suggests that while some inpatients engage with BT, many either discontinue early or do not initiate its use at all. To better understand these patterns, this multicentric, retrospective observational study investigates factors associated with noninitiation and dropout among inpatients who are offered BT.  In this study, data from 278 inpatients were analyzed to examine the influence of sociodemographic variables, comorbidities, and symptom severity on the uptake and continued use of BT. The objective was to identify predictors of noninitiation and dropout.  Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to identify significant predictors of noninitiation and dropout among inpatients using the transdiagnostic, cognitive behavioral therapy-based electronic mental health platform Minddistrict, which offers modules targeting psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral activation. Data were collected from 2 psychiatric hospitals between January 2020 and May 2024. The sample consisted predominantly of patients diagnosed with depression (182/278, 65.7%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (61/278, 21.9%), alongside various comorbid conditions. The findings indicate distinct patterns of association for noninitiation and dropout. Of the 278 patients, only 5 (1.8%) completed all the assigned modules, and one-third of the patients never initiated the platform at all. Specifically, increasing age was linked to a lower risk of noninitiation (odds ratio [per year age difference] 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00; P=.01), while the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder was associated with a reduced risk of dropout (odds ratio 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.66; P=.007). Several variables showed no association with either noninitiation or dropout across all analyses, including sex, overall symptom severity, and certain comorbidities such as personality disorders and depression.  In this preselected inpatient sample, uptake of BT was very limited. Older age was associated with lower noninitiation, and comorbid anxiety disorders were associated with a lower likelihood of dropout. These findings may help inform future prospective studies on how BT can be introduced and supported more effectively in inpatient psychiatric care. As access to BT was granted selectively by therapists, the results should be interpreted as predictors of engagement within a selected sample rather than general predictors of BT uptake among all psychiatric inpatients.
The compressive strength of pervious concrete is challenging to predict due to complex, non-linear interactions between chemical, mix design, and curing factors. This study presents an integrated data-driven framework combining oxide-level chemical descriptors, advanced ensemble machine learning, metaheuristic optimisation, explainable artificial intelligence, and uncertainty quantification for compressive strength prediction. A dataset of 659 samples from 20 published studies was assembled, incorporating CaO, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, alkali content, aggregate properties, water content, and curing duration as inputs. Five models were developed and evaluated: Random Forest, AdaBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost, and a hybrid CatBoost-MOWCA. CatBoost achieved the best generalisation performance (R2 = 0.9272, RMSE = 2.334 MPa), outperforming all models on the independent test set and comparing favourably with published literature reporting R2 values of 0.85-0.95 for similar systems. SHAP analysis identified curing duration, Al₂O₃ content, and water content as the primary strength drivers. The positive Al₂O₃ effect reflects its pozzolanic role in SCM-blended systems, where it participates in secondary reactions forming calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH) and calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (CASH) phases that densify the microstructure and strengthen the interfacial transition zone. Monte Carlo simulation revealed that epistemic uncertainty dominates at 62.1%, consistent with the heterogeneous multi-study dataset composition. An extended CatBoost model incorporating total cementitious material content as an additional input confirmed complementary predictive value, yielding modest but consistent improvement across all test metrics. A graphical user interface powered by the CatBoost model enables real-time prediction and sensitivity analysis, supporting practical mix design optimisation.
Soil fertility depletion and acidity are major constraints to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in the Ethiopian highlands. Integrated soil fertility management offers a sustainable solution, but site-specific recommendations are lacking for the Horro District. This study evaluated the integrated effects of vermicompost (VC) and blended NPSB fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and barley yield. A factorial experiment was conducted during the 2023/2024 main cropping season using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Treatments comprised four VC rates (0, 1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 t ha-1) and four NPSB rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1). Soil samples were analyzed before planting and after harvest for pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av. P), sulfur (Av. S), boron (Av. B), cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density (BD), and texture. Barley yield and yield components were recorded, and partial budget analysis was performed. The initial soil was strongly acidic (pH 5.24) with low OC (1.23%) and very low Av. P (6.39 ppm). Integrated VC and NPSB application significantly (p < 0.05) improved all soil properties compared to the control. The combination of 3.75 t ha-1 VC with 100 kg ha-1 NPSB produced the highest OC (1.53%), TN (0.25%), Av. P (10.30 ppm), CEC (33.31 cm ( +) kg-1), and grain yield (5.78 t ha-1), while reducing BD to 1.25 g cm-3. This treatment also yielded the highest net benefit (218,335.5 ETB ha-1) with a marginal rate of return of 681.75%. We conclude that integrated application of 3.75 t ha-1 VC and 100 kg ha-1 NPSB is a sustainable, economically viable strategy to restore soil fertility and enhance barley productivity in the acidic Nitisols of Western Ethiopia. Long-term studies are recommended to evaluate residual effects across multiple cropping seasons.
As the world's population rises, the aquaculture sector has put a lot of money into creating ecologically benign, long-lasting protein sources to replace fishmeal (FM) in aquatic diets. This study evaluated the potential of applying a 1:1 mixture of processed black soldier fly larvae (BSL, Hermetia illucens) meal and poultry by-product (PB) meal as a replacement for FM in the diets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Both ingredients were treated with physical, chemical, and enzymatic hydrolysis treatments. A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of BSL-PB mixture on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, feed utilization, nutrient digestibility, intestinal histomorphology, blood biochemical indicators, and hepatic antioxidant activities. Five experimental diets were created to replace FM with PB-BSL at 0% (control), 25% (PB-BSL25%), 50% (PB-BSL50%), 75% (PB-BSL75%), and 100% (PB-BSL100%). A total of 450 Nile tilapia fry (3.78 ± 0.08 g) was stored in five groups, with three replicates per group. Each replicate was stocked in a 100 L fiberglass tank at a stock density of 30 fry/tank. During the 70-day feeding period, fish were fed three times daily to ensure adequate nutrient intake. The fish were weighed once every 15 days throughout the experiment. Groundwater was used, and 10% of the water was replenished regularly. Results showed that groups of PB-BSL50% and PB-BSL75% (containing 50% and 75% PB-BSL replacement) had significantly increased the values of growth performance, feed utilization, digestibility coefficients, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal histomorphometry, serum biochemical, and hepatic antioxidant activities compared to the control group. In contrast, groups receiving PB-BSL25% and PB-BSL100% [25% and 100% PB-BSL replacement, respectively] replacement, respectively) had no negative effect on the overall health of Nile tilapia. Interestingly, the polynomial regression model for feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain (WG) of O. niloticus indicated that replacing 50%-60% of FM with the processed PB-BSL mixture provides an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to FM in Nile tilapia diets.
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In this work, both artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) approaches were employed to estimate the specific heat capacity (CP) of aqueous mixtures containing potassium carbonate (K2CO3), piperazine (PZ), and monoethanolamine (MEA) used in CO2 capture processes. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) model was employed using the trainlm and trainbr functions for CP prediction. The optimal model, trained using the trainlm algorithm with a hidden layer architecture consisting of 15 neurons in the first layer, 15 in the second, and 10 in the third, reached its best performance after 79 epochs, achieving a remarkably low mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0001 and a high R2 value of 0.9993. In the radial basis function (RBF) approach, the best prediction was obtained with a spread value of 3 and 150 neurons, resulting in mean squared error of 0.0040 and R2 value of 0.9858. A comparison of MSE and R2 values for RSM and ANN indicates that the results from ANN, especially the MLP method, are more accurate than those from RSM. A total of 527 experimental data points, collected from various sources, were utilized to comprehensively predict CP for different aqueous solution systems containing MEA, PZ, and K2CO3. The temperature range considered was from 313.15 to 393.15 K. Additionally, to improve prediction accuracy, physical properties of the solutions, such as density and molecular weight, along with temperature, were selected as input parameters. The results can effectively contribute to optimizing CO2 absorption processes and designing aqueous-based absorption systems.
Omega fatty acids (FA) have been shown to benefit cognition during infancy and adulthood. However, adolescence remains under investigated, despite being a critical period for development of executive functions and emotion regulation. The current objective was to investigate the impact of daily treatment with a proprietary omega-FA blend on cognitive performance, mood, and emotion regulation in healthy adolescents aged 13-14 years. Using a parallel, double-blind, placebo controlled design, participants were randomly allocated to consume the omega blend (2 capsules/day providing 925 mg blend of algae-derived omega 3-, 7-, and 9-FAs) or a placebo (2 capsules/day of MCT oil) for 16 weeks. Episodic memory, executive function, mood, emotion regulation, EEG measures, and omega-3 index (O3I) were recorded at baseline and following 16 weeks of intervention. O3I increased significantly only in the omega blend group, indicating compliance with the intervention and improved O3I status. Improvements were observed for immediate word recall and delayed word recall aspects of episodic memory in the omega blend group only. Significantly faster reaction times were also observed on an attention network executive function task in the omega group. Alongside cognitive benefits, changes in EEG activity were observed, including increased N200 ERP deflections during 0-back task performance, and reduced PSD activity during sustained attention and at rest. Combined, these cognitive and physiological findings suggest that an omega-FA blend may support cognitive development in healthy adolescents aged 13 & 14, potentially through facilitation of brain maturation and more efficient allocation of neural resources. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05581108. Registration date: 11/10/2022.
The hydrogen-natural gas blending is proving to be a viable route toward the decarbonization of the city gas distribution (CGD) network in India. In this research work, a full-scale experimental testbed is introduced that has high-pressure hydrogen storage, a programmable logic controller, mass flow controllers, a static gas-mixing manifold, hydrocarbon filtration, and a moisture absorber, as well as multimaterial pipelines (galvanized iron, medium-density polyethylene pipe, and carbon steel) used in the Indian CGD infrastructure. To study the flame structure, thermal efficiency, heat flux, gas consumption, and stability of operation in the CGD simulated conditions. The experiments were performed using 0-30% hydrogen mixtures in methane. Gradual increase in hydrogen enrichment changed the flame from a typical blue flame of methane to a bluish-purple high-temperature profile, and the flame remained stable with the enrichment of the hydrogen up to 25% without flashback or instability, and at 30%, minor instability was observed. Maximum values of the highest heat flux (22,489-22,763 W/m2) were obtained at 18-25% blends of hydrogen, which implied shorter heating time and faster combustion rates. The analysis of emissions indicated a consistent decrease in carbon monoxide (CO), from 112 to 38 ppm, and in carbon dioxide (CO2), from 8.9% to 6.1%. Additionally, with a 0-30% enrichment of hydrogen (H2), there was an increased formation of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) due to higher temperatures. The 25% hydrogen mixture exhibited the best combination of high heat flux, uniform flame geometry, and low gas consumption, while also achieveing the highest (12.6%). These findings illustrate that 18-25% hydrogen is the best blending range of domestic burners in the CGD system, which has better combustion efficiency, less emission intensity, and can blend with available confirmation of the hydrogen-enriched natural gas as a short-term decarbonizing measure of the CGD infrastructure in India.
Although Agriculture 4.0 combines biotechnology, information technology, and nanotechnology to boost productivity and sustainability in farming, controlled delivery of herbicides is still a challenge. However, nanomaterials are drawing more interest for their potential in developing more precise controlled release systems for agrochemicals. In this work, nanofibrous mats of biodegradable poly-(butylene adipate coterephthalate) (PBAT) and poly-(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) blends containing Indaziflam were prepared by Solution Blow Spinning for control release in agriculture. Blends were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Nanofibrous mats were also analyzed for their biodegradation profile using the aerobic method of Bartha's respirometer and subjected to the simulation of the potential inhibitor in grass germination. These nanofibers had average diameters ranging from 288 to 367 nm, depending on the concentration of PVP. In this context, nanofibrous mats with varying amounts of PVP exhibited greater biodegradability compared to films. Furthermore, the nanofibrous mats with herbicides showed germicidal action on grass. Therefore, our results indicated that by controlling the amount of PVP in PBAT/PVP blends, controlled release systems of herbicides with potential uses in agriculture can be easily tailored.
There has been a growing emphasis on developing products from renewable resources, considering the environmental concerns. The use of newspapers to produce cellulose films for packaging applications is known, but tissue engineering remains an unexplored aspect. Thus, our emphasis was on exploring waste print paper for tissue engineering applications. In this study, chitosan-cellulose composite films were prepared from waste print paper processed by alkali treatment. The films were prepared by dispersing and blending dried cellulose pulp with chitosan in acetic acid, with 3% glycerol as the plasticizer. The XRD analysis shows the film's amorphous nature. Compared to pure chitosan film, the blended film showed a 10% increase in tensile strength and was hydrophilic. The prepared composite was transparent, flexible, non-adhesive, and with high swelling ratio. The cell culture study shows significant attachment and proliferation of L929 cells on the cellulose-chitosan composite film after 24 h. The cells maintained their defined structure on pure chitosan and the cellulose-chitosan blended films. A cell viability study shows the films are non-toxic. Thus, waste print paper is a potential renewable resource for the preparation of cellulose-chitosan composite films for biomedical applications.
Hydrogen is a valuable commodity due to its high energy density and properties as a flexible energy carrier. It is possible to store hydrogen by blending it with methane and utilizing existing natural gas infrastructure. However, adapting current methane storage strategies to withstand the expected biogeochemical processes caused by H2 injection has not been fully explored. In this study, a series of experiments were designed to identify potential geochemical and microbial challenges of storing hydrogen/methane gas blends in existing methane reservoirs. First, fluid samples were collected from two methane reservoirs located in the western United States. The geochemical composition, microbial taxonomy, and metabolic potential of each fluid sample were characterized by utilizing ion chromatography (IC), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), a Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and metagenomic sequencing. Next, fluid samples from one field site (Site 2) were used to complete a series of short-term reactor experiments at reservoir conditions (80 °C and ∼1000 psi) for natural gas (100% CH4) and hydrogen blend (80% CH4/20% H2) storage environments. Both biotic and abiotic (sterilized) measurements were conducted to accurately understand and decouple abiotic and microbially driven processes, with the goal of linking these processes to storage impacts. Overall, the two reservoirs had a high, but variable, total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, with various organic acids including acetate and propionate. The field sample was characterized by a diverse microbial community with the metabolic capacity for sulfur reduction, iron reduction, and acetogenesis. Across these reactors, there was minimal change in the fluid geochemistry and a minimal (0-5%) decrease of hydrogen gas during the initial storage event (days 1-3). This work contributes to the understanding of the complexities of hydrogen storage and demonstrates the need for additional research.