Search

The significant production of sewage sludge by wastewater treatment plants on a global scale and the lack of correspondence between housing development and the expansion of sanitation infrastructure indicate a genuine concern regarding environmental preservation. This study addresses the crucial issue of effective sewage sludge management and its environmental impact. In the context of searching for new drying methods that optimize energy use and effectively stabilize sewage sludge, this work investigated the drying behavior of sewage sludge from treatment plants in two northern Moroccan cities using a prototype of an indirect forced convection solar dryer. The drying experiments enabled the determination of drying kinetics as well as highlighted the influence of temperature and humidity on the drying rate. The characteristic drying curve (CDC) and its mathematical expression were determined using Van Meel’s formalism. Thermal diffusivity of wastewater sludge during drying was also investigated. Using Fick’s diffusion model, diffusion coefficients ranged between 0.59 × 10-9 m²/s and 1.43 × 10-9 m²/s, demonstrating an increase in effective diffusivity with rising temperature. The Arrhenius equation provided activation energy values of 16.80 kJ/mol for Oujda samples and 19.72 kJ/mol for Nador samples, indicating the effect of temperature on effective diffusivity. A new equation based on the Midilli-Kucuk model was proposed to predict the drying behavior under untested aerothermal conditions, considering drying temperature and the initial dryness. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the drying kinetics and effective diffusivity of sewage sludge, providing valuable insights for designing large dryers for sludge management in WWTPs. This approach presents an optimal solution for drying and stabilizing sludge, contributing to environmental preservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a predator-prey system with density-dependent diffusion and indirect pursuit-evasion interaction under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. By providing appropriate conditions, the asymptotic stability of solution is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global production and industrialization of avocados has led to the generation of large numbers of peel, seeds, and leaf by-products with significant environmental implications. Current efforts, including the Sustainable Development Goals, aim towards the development of sustainable operations through the valorization of waste. Previous research has focused on studying the rich chemical composition of these avocado by-products. Current studies are working on the isolation of polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids and other bioactive compounds found in avocado peel, seeds and leaves for applications in nutraceutical products in the food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries. The inclusion of these extracts in industrial matrices often requires stabilization technologies such as encapsulation emulsions to ensure the delivery and bioactivity of these target compounds. This review will discuss the global production volumes of avocado and its by-products as well as the potential inclusion in various industries based on their chemical compositions. Additionally, this work addresses the various applications that have been previously proposed for the wastes and their extracts. This review also covers the stabilization techniques previously employed in avocado extract treatment, their applications, and the current challenges and opportunities associated with avocado by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the preparation of activated carbon using a petroleum-residue-based pitch, as well as the HCl gas adsorption properties of the resulting activated carbon pellets relative to their specific surface area and pore structure. Activated carbon was prepared under various oxidation and chemical activation conditions using pitch with a softening point of 220 °C. The activated carbon was mixed with distilled water, an acrylic binder, and carboxymethyl cellulose in a specific ratio to form pellets. These pellets were then dried in an oven at 80 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses were performed to evaluate the surface structure and specific surface area of the finalized pellets. HCl gas was adsorbed at a concentration of 50 ppm while examining the adsorption characteristics relative to the pore structure and specific surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The unclear clinical outcomes of two different zero‐profile implants with different number of screws in hybrid surgery restricts the choice of patient‐specific implants. This study aims to compare two different implants on its postoperative subsidence, motion stabilization and clinical outcomes. It also provides references to the most reasonable implant choice in fusion surgery. Methods: This was a retrospective study. From February 2014 to March 2022, 173 patients who underwent hybrid surgery were included. Among them, 122 received surgery with a four screw implant, while 51 received a two screw implant. We analyzed the significance of patient‐specific factors, radiographic factors and clinical outcomes. The Wilcoxon rank sum test, t tests/analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and stepwise multivariate logistic regression were adopted for statistical analysis. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the two screw and four screw groups in terms of immediate, middle, and long‐term stability and fusion rate (p > 0.05). However, the two screws group had higher FSU height subsidence at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and higher rates of significant subsidence at three and 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). Both groups showed significant clinical improvements at the final follow‐up. Conclusion: Two screw and four screw implants provide comparable stability, fusion rates and clinical outcomes. However, the two screw implant was inferior to the four screw implant in subsidence prevention. Therefore, the two‐screw implant is non‐inferior to the four‐screw implant in most patients. It can be used as the priority choice in the fusion segment by its easy manageability. However, the patients with a high risk of subsidence such as multilevel surgery, the elderly, lower BMD, bad cervical alignment should receive a four screw implant rather than a two screw implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, an abundant biopolymer derived from plants, is a green binder for stabilizing soil. This study investigates the thermal conductivity of lignin [e.g., sodium ignosulfonate (SL), calcium lignosulfonate (CL), and lignin fiber (LF)] and lignin-stabilized loess. The effects of the source of loess samples, lignin content, curing time, water content, and dry density on the thermal conductivity of the stabilized soils were experimentally evaluated. Furthermore, mineralogy and microstructure of the stabilized loess were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests to provide insights into the mechanisms of lignin-based soil stabilization. The test results showed that lignin had a lower thermal conductivity than water and soil minerals. The addition of lignin reduced the thermal conductivity of loess, with CL and SL causing a slightly greater reduction than LF. Mixing lignin with loess did not generate new crystalline material. The incorporation of CL and SL altered the microstructure of loess, resulting in a densely packed structure with distinct particle bonds and intra-aggregate pores. In contrast, LF provide microscale reinforcement for the soil particles, presenting a loose structure with dominant interaggregate pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces an adaptive version of the stabilized Trace Finite Element Method (TraceFEM) designed to solve low-regularity elliptic problems on level-set surfaces using a shape-regular bulk mesh in the embedding space. Two stabilization variants, gradient-jump face and normal-gradient volume, are considered for continuous trace spaces of the first and second degrees, based on the polynomial families Q 1 and Q 2. We propose a practical error indicator that estimates the 'jumps' of finite element solution derivatives across background mesh faces and it avoids integration of any quantities along implicitly defined curvilinear edges of the discrete surface elements. For the Q 1 family of piecewise trilinear polynomials on bulk cells, the solve-estimate-mark-refine strategy, combined with the suggested error indicator, achieves optimal convergence rates typical of two-dimensional problems. We also provide a posteriori error estimates, establishing the reliability of the error indicator for the Q 1 and Q 2 elements and for two types of stabilization. In numerical experiments, we assess the reliability and efficiency of the error indicator. While both stabilizations are found to deliver comparable performance, the lowest degree finite element space appears to be the more robust choice for the adaptive TraceFEM framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Early intervention after trauma is needed for reduction in clinical distress and prevention of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study describes findings from an open pilot trial of a brief stabilization psychotherapy based on imagery techniques for adults with acute PTSD (i.e., within 3 months of onset). Materials and Methods: Four sessions of 60-minute individual psychotherapy were conducted on 18 participants with PTSD within 3 months alter accidents, 15 of whom completed the treatment. The clinician-administered PTSD scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, and self-questionnaires were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Results: Eight (53.3%) of the 15 patients at post-treatment and 8 of the 9 patients at 6-month follow-up did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Reliable change of PTSD symptoms after treatment was observed in 6 of 15 (45.0%) patients at post-treatment and in 4 of 9 (45.0%) patients after 6 months. There was a significant decrease in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life scores after treatment, and these gains were maintained after 6 months. No cases of exacerbated PTSD symptoms were observed among completers and non-completers. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that brief stabilization sessions are safe treatment options for acute PTSD (KCT0001918). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the behavior of stabilized Incinerated Bottom Ash (BA) reinforced with fiber when tested under Triaxial conditions. A number of lab-based Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) tests were performed on BA specimens with changing cement content (0–10%) and fiber length (6–18 mm). Cement stabilization enhances shear strength, while fiber inclusion shifts behavior from brittle to ductile. Initially, unconsolidated-undrained strength increases with fiber addition, then decreases. Optimal results were achieved with 0.5% 12 mm fibers and 7% cement, showing a 71.43% strength improvement after 28 days. Prediction of shear strength using a Back Propagation neural network and Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy system yields stronger correlations than regression analysis. The properties of stabilizer and reinforcement on compaction, shear strength, and secant modulus of elasticity (E50) were investigated. PP fiber inclusion enhances shear strength and ductility, with cement content and curing period as dominant factors. Scanning electron microscopy shows stabilizer addition leads to cementitious compounds binding bottom particles, increasing interaction between ash and fiber, thus affecting overall shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims to formulate a class of nonlinear hybrid stochastic time-delay neural networks (STDNNs) with Lévy noise. Specifically, the coefficients of networks grow polynomially instead of linearly, and the time delay of given neural networks is non-differentiable. In many practical situations, nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise are unstable. Hence, this paper uses feedback control based on discrete-time state and mode observations to stabilize the considered nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Then, we establish stabilization criteria of H ∞ stability, asymptotic stability, and exponential stability for the controlled nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Finally, a numerical example illustrating the usefulness of theoretical results is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of rancidity of rice polishing powder and improve its physicochemical properties, the effects of twin-screw extrusion under different extrusion temperatures on the storage stability and nutritional properties of rice polishing powder were studied. Under the optimum extrusion temperature, the rice polishing powder (SR-1, SR-2, SR-3, and SR-4) with different particle sizes was prepared by low temperature impact mill (LTIM) under different air classifier speeds (300, 600, 1200, and 1800 r/min). The effects of the air classifier speed on volatile aroma compounds and physicochemical properties of rice polishing powder were studied. The results showed that the lipase activity of rice polishing powder decreased significantly from 12.94 mg/g to 2.18 mg/g after extrusion treatment. Stored at the 150th day, the fatty acid value of untreated rice polishing powder was 255.57 mg KOH/100 g, while the fatty acid value of the extruded sample was only 121.90 mg KOH/100 g. After extrusion treatment, dietary fiber, γ-aminobutyric acid, and γ- oryzanol in rice polishing powder were also well retained. LTIM promoted the release of volatile aroma compounds in rice polishing powder, and SR-3 had the highest concentration. Based on the partial least square discriminant, 9 differentially labeled components were screened according to the importance projection of variables, and it was confirmed that SR-3 had the strongest flavor. With the decrease of particle size, the specific surface area of rice polishing powder gradually increased, and the bulk density showed a decreasing trend. The whiteness index increased significantly from 66.08 to 76.61. Water absorption ability and solubility increased significantly from 1.77 g/g and 24% to 2.37 g/g and 31%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that LTIM destroyed hydrogen bonds in starch particles, resulting in more free hydroxyl group exposure. The results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the processing of high-quality rice polishing powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge (SS), a byproduct of wastewater treatment plants, poses significant environmental and health risks if not properly handled. Conventional approaches for SS stabilization often involve costly and energy-consuming processes. This study investigated the effect of promoting native microalgae growth in SS on its stabilization, pathogen bacteria removal, and valuable biomass production. The effect on settleability, filterability, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) was examined as well. Experiments were conducted in photobioreactors (PBRs) without O2 supply and CO2 release under controlled parameters. The results show a significant improvement in SS stabilization, with a reduction of volatile solids (VSs) by 47.55%. Additionally, fecal coliforms and E. coli were efficiently removed by 2.25 log and 6.72 log, respectively. Moreover, Salmonella spp. was not detected after 15 days of treatment. The settleability was improved by 71.42%. However, a worsening of the sludge filterability properties was observed, likely due to a decrease in floc size following the reduction of protein content in the tightly bound EPS fraction. Microalgae biomass production was 16.56 mg/L/day, with a mean biomass of 0.35 g/L at the end of the batch treatment, representing 10.35% of the total final biomass. These findings suggest that promoting native microalgal growth in SS could be sustainable and cost-effective for SS stabilization, microalgal biomass production, and the enhancement of sludge-settling characteristics, notwithstanding potential filtration-related considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitin, has emerged as a highly promising instrument for the production and application of metal nanoparticles. The present review delves into the several functions of chitosan in the development and operation of metal nanoparticles, emphasizing its aptitudes as a green reducing agent, shape-directing agent, size-controlling agent, and stabilizer. Chitosan's special qualities make it easier to manufacture metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites with desired characteristics. Furthermore, there is a lot of promise for chitosan-based nanocomposites in a number of fields, such as metal removal, water purification, and photoacoustic, photothermal, antibacterial, and photodynamic therapies. This thorough analysis highlights the potential application of chitosan in the advancement of nanotechnology and the development of medicinal and environmental solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of dams and levees is an increasing concern for both infrastructure integrity and environmental sustainability. The extensive repercussions, including the displacement of communities, underscore the imperative for sustainable interventions. This study addresses these challenges by investigating the stabilization of dredged material (DM) for diverse applications. Seven mixtures incorporating fly ash, lime, and cement were formulated. The Standard Compaction Test was used to determine optimal density–moisture conditions, which helped with brick fabrication. Bricks were tested for compressive strength over various curing periods, and the durability of the 28-day-cured samples was evaluated by performing water immersion tests following the New Mexico Code specifications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess microstructural bonding. Results confirm that the inclusion of cementitious stabilizers modifies the material's microstructure, resulting in enhancements of both strength and water resistance. Notably, the stabilized material demonstrates potential for use in non-fired brick manufacturing and as bridge stones for waterway erosion control. This dual-function application offers a sustainable and economically feasible approach to managing dredged materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk posed by expansive soils can be lessened by placing foundations at a more deep level below the surface. Structures are able to withstand uplift forces because overburden pressure partially suppresses swelling pressure. In order to transfer the forces to a sufficiently deep depth, this study suggests introducing shafts of a low-expansion overburden material. Soil improved with cement is chosen for this purpose. This study suggests using sand with added excavated natural clay and cement. The expansive clay is added to sand in ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60%. The clay–sand mixture is then enhanced by cement of 1, 2, 4 and 8% by the weight of the mixture under four curing periods of 1, 7, 28, and 90 days. This material is recommended for use under lean concrete to transfer the loads to lower levels below the foundation depth. The thickness of this material depends on the stresses exerted, the type and the properties of the subsurface soils. The cement-enhanced clay–sand shaft's properties are examined in this work with regard to the swelling potential, compressibility, and the unconfined compressive strength for different clay contents and curing conditions. Stiff shafts were formed and found to support stresses from 600 to 3500 kPa at cement additions in the range of 1% to 8%. Clay content above 30% is found to be not suitable for Al-Qatif clay due to the compressibility and low strength of the mixture. When two percent or more of cement is added, the swelling potential is significantly reduced. This is reliant on the pozzolanic interactions of soils and cement as well as the clay mineralogy. Determining how cement affects clay–sand combinations in regions with expansive soils would facilitate the introduction of a novel, inexpensive technology to support loads applied by the superstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Arsenic contamination of various environmental components poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Soil As contamination is particularly hazardous, as soil is a vital pathway to the food chain. We conducted experiments on soil from a typical pharmaceutical and chemical industry relocation site in Hubei Province, focusing on modification using fly ash through mechanical and chemical mechanisms. We subjected varying proportions of lime, ferrous sulfate, and fly ash to mechanical ball milling and used these mixtures to perform remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil and site restoration. Our findings are as follows: in soil culture experiments, the As stabilization efficiency reached 90% within 90 days with ferrous salt-modified fly ash. In actual site restoration, As-stabilization efficiency exceeded 95% across different soil depths within 30 days, demonstrating significant stabilization effects. Optimal modified dosages were determined as 2% ferrous sulfate and 2% fly ash. After stabilization, As in the soil primarily existed in amorphous iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3) and crystalline iron-aluminum oxide-bound (F3 + F4) and residual (F5) states. Fluctuations in the moisture content and pH mainly activated F3 and F4, transitioning them into exchangeable (F1) and surface-adsorbed (F2) states. Arsenic leaching was predominantly associated with the F1 form. Fly ash-based restoration technology demonstrates promising capabilities in waste treatment and pollution control, offering significant potential for widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination with heavy metals presents a substantial environmental peril, necessitating the exploration of innovative remediation approaches. This research aimed to investigate the efficiency of nano-silica in stabilizing heavy metals in a calcareous heavy metal-contaminated soil. The soil was treated with five nano-silica levels of 0, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg and incubated for two months. The results showed that nano-silica had a specific surface area of 179.68 m 2 / g . At 1000 mg/kg, the DTPA-extractable concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr decreased by 12%, 11%, 11.6%, 10%, and 9.5% compared to the controls, respectively. Additionally, as the nano-silica application rate increased, both soil pH and specific surface area increased. The augmentation of nano-silica adsorbent in the soil led to a decline in the exchangeable (EX) and carbonate-bound fractions of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr, while the distribution of heavy metals in fractions bonded with Fe–Mn oxides, organic matter, and residue increased. The use of 1000 mg/kg nano-silica resulted in an 8.0% reduction in EX Pb, 4.5% in EX Cu, 7.3% in EX Zn, 7.1% in EX Ni, and 7.9% in EX Cr compared to the control treatment. Overall, our study highlights the potential of nano silica as a promising remediation strategy for addressing heavy metal pollution in contaminated soils, offering sustainable solutions for environmental restoration and ecosystem protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspecific density dependence (CDD) in plant populations is widespread, most likely caused by local‐scale biotic interactions, and has potentially important implications for biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem processes. However, progress in this important area of ecology has been hindered by differing viewpoints on CDD across subfields in ecology, lack of synthesis across CDD‐related frameworks, and misunderstandings about how empirical measurements of local CDD fit within the context of broader ecological theories on community assembly and diversity maintenance. Here, we propose a conceptual synthesis of local‐scale CDD and its causes, including species‐specific antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. First, we compare and clarify different uses of CDD and related concepts across subfields within ecology. We suggest the use of local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD to refer to the scenario where local conspecific density effects are more negative/positive than heterospecific effects. Second, we discuss different mechanisms for local stabilizing and destabilizing CDD, how those mechanisms are interrelated, and how they cut across several fields of study within ecology. Third, we place local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD within the context of broader ecological theories and discuss implications and challenges related to scaling up the effects of local CDD on populations, communities, and metacommunities. The ultimate goal of this synthesis is to provide a conceptual roadmap for researchers studying local CDD and its implications for population and community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ATTR-CM is becoming more prevalent, and disease-modifying therapy has been investigated in recent years with promising results. Diflunisal has shown TTR-stabilizing properties assessed by biomarkers and echocardiography, but there are no trials addressing the evolution of morphological changes with CMR. Methods and Results: AMILCA-DIFLU is an exploratory pilot study prospective, single-center, non-randomized, open-label clinical trial. Patients diagnosed with ATTR-CM underwent clinical, functional, biochemical and imaging assessment before and one year after diflunisal therapy initiation. Of the twelve ATTR-CM patients included, only nine patients completed treatment and study protocol in 12 months. To increase the sample size, we included seven real-world patients with one year of diflunisal treatment. Among the group of patients who completed treatment, diflunisal therapy did not show improvement in cardiac disease status as assessed by many cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers, 6MWT and CMR parameters after one year of treatment. However, a non-significant trend towards stabilization of CMR parameters such as LVEF, ECV and T2 at one year was found. When comparing the group of patients who completed diflunisal therapy and those who did not, a significant decrease in the distance performed in the 6MWT was found in the group of patients who completed treatment at one year (−14 ± 81.8 vs. −173 ± 122.2; p = 0.032). Diflunisal was overall well tolerated, showing only a statistically significant worsening in renal function in the group of diflunisal-treatment patients with no clinical relevance or need for treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: In patients with ATTR-CM, treatment with diflunisal was overall well tolerated and tended to stabilize or slow down amyloid cardiac disease progression assessed by CMR parameters, cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers and functional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefaction, a vital issue in geotechnical engineering, is often due to cyclic stress leading to the effective stress in the soil mass reaching zero. This phenomenon depends on several aspects, including the soil type. Most previous research has focused on the liquefaction behavior of silicate sands, which significantly differ from carbonate sands in terms of static and dynamic resistance. Therefore, this study investigates the liquefaction behavior of clean Bushehr carbonate sand (CBCS), crude oil-contaminated Bushehr carbonate sand (COCBCS), and stabilized crude oil-contaminated Bushehr carbonate sand (SCOCBCS). The stabilization process uses three additives, i.e., Nano clay (NC), Portland cement (PC), and silicon dioxide (SD). The study finds that the addition of 4% NC has the highest impact on stabilizing the liquefaction of Bushehr carbonate sand, causing an 8.5-fold increase in the number of cycles required for liquefaction to occur compared to when the sand is contaminated with crude oil. Among the additives, 2% SD is the least effective, resulting in only a 2-fold increase in dynamic resistance. SEM and XRD results show that the structure and particle size of the sands do not change when mixed with different percentages of crude oil. The chemical analysis results indicate that PC (due to its chemical composition) can more effectively alter the characteristics of treated samples. However, due to higher surface area, NC stabilizes the liquefaction potential of oil-contaminated Bushehr carbonate sands more efficiently than other stabilizer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large strain analysis is a challenging task, especially in fictitious or immersed boundary domain methods, since badly broken elements/cells can lead to an ill-conditioned global tangent stiffness matrix, resulting in convergence problems of the incremental/iterative solution approach. In this work, the finite cell method is employed as a fictitious domain approach, in conjunction with an eigenvalue stabilization technique, to ensure the stability of the solution procedure. Additionally, a remeshing strategy is applied to accommodate highly deformed configurations of the geometry. Radial basis functions and inverse distance weighting interpolation schemes are utilized to map the displacement gradient and internal variables between the old and new meshes during the remeshing process. For the first time, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the remeshing approach using various numerical examples in the context of finite strain elastoplasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid tars, a waste unique to the oil processing industry, pose a significant toxicity risk. These by-products originate from refining certain petroleum fractions, such as oil and paraffin, and are commonly found in the waste streams of crude oil processing. In Romania, particularly in the post-war period, acid tars were predominantly managed through storage. Although advancements in catalytic processes have considerably reduced the generation of acid tars in the Romanian refining industry, an efficient treatment method is still required to address the existing acid tars lagoons. The present research refers to a case study carried out on a laboratory scale for the physico-chemical stabilization/encapsulation of acid tars from a lagoon belonging to a refinery in Prahova-Romania county. The experimental program aimed at formulating and applying optimal stabilization recipes for acid tar from the selected lagoon was conducted to reduce the total hydrocarbon and toxic metal content, in compliance with Order No. 95 of 12.02.2005 from Romanian legislation. The leaching data showed that the recipes that stabilize and encapsulate acid tar provide a good immobilization capacity for the five heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, total Cr, Ni) and As, while their releases are dependent on the pH- and varies with the total hydrocarbon content of the treated tar. The laboratory study carried out and presented in this work, as well as the results obtained after performing the leaching test, allow the extrapolation and application of this stabilization - encapsulation procedure on a macro-in situ scale and the remediation of the lagoon where the acid tar was stored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horses have been companions of people for thousands of years. Areas in which humans use these animals include, for example, transport, participation in sports competitions, or during rehabilitation (hippotherapy). Unfortunately, injuries such as lower limb fracture very often require euthanasia due to the significant difficulties in conducting fracture therapy/repair. Therefore, there are still many possibilities for the improvement of existing treatments. The aim of the study was to conduct a numerical analysis enabling the prediction of bone union of the third metacarpal bone of a horse. The loading conditions and type of fracture were based on a pony weighing 120 kg; however, research on a live animal was not the purpose of this study. Numerical studies were carried out for three different methods of stabilization using bone plates in the Ansys program (lateral, anterior, and lateral–anterior stabilization). An algorithm based on the Carter model was used to predict bone union, while linear-coupled models were used to describe the behaviour of materials. The authors also performed dynamic analyses in the Abaqus/Explicit program to determine the maximum speed at which the horse could move so that the fracture would not deepen. For dynamic analyses, the authors used nonlinear models—Johnson–Cook in the case of the 316L surgical steel material and cortical bone. Material failure was described using the Johnson–Cook failure model for steel and the limit strain model for cortical bone. A series of numerical simulations allowed to determine the direction of bone union building, and the most favourable case of stabilization was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid optical systems with integrated control mechanisms enable a dynamic adjustment of optical components, ensuring real-time optimization, adaptability to changing conditions, and precise functionality. This control requirement enhances their performance in applications demanding responsiveness, such as autonomous systems, adaptive optics, and advanced imaging technologies. This research introduces a novel approach, employing a dynamic-free Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy sliding mode control (TS-fuzzy SMC) technique, to regulate and stabilize a specific category of chaotic fractional-order modified hybrid optical systems. The method addresses uncertainties and inputsaturation challenges within the system. Leveraging a novel fractional calculus definition along with the non-integer type of the Lyapunov stability theorem and linear matrix inequality principle, the TSfuzzy SMC approach was applied to effectively mitigate and regulate the undesired behavior of the fractional-order chaotic-modified hybrid optical system. Notably, this scheme achieved control without experiencing undesirable chattering phenomena. The paper concludes by offering concrete examples and comparisons, demonstrating how the theoretical findings are applied in real-world scenarios. This provides practical insights into the effectiveness of the proposed approach in diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Teras Jurnal: Jurnal Teknik Sipil is the property of Teras Jurnal: Jurnal Teknik Sipil and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract This paper deals with a predator-prey system with density-dependent diffusion and indirect pursuit-evasion interaction under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. By providing appropriate conditions, the asymptotic stability of solution is investigated.

Background: The shoulder microbiome is an emerging field in orthopedic research. Large synovial joints which were typically considered to be sterile now have strong evidence demonstrating the presence of native organisms colonizing the joint. Many of the conditions that surgeons see and treat in the shoulder, including osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, and adhesive capsulitis, have unclear etiology. The shoulder microbiome is a potential source of pathology in dysbiosis states, or source of protection against pathology in normobiosis states. The purpose of this review is to characterize the published research detailing the microbiome of the native shoulder joint. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data searches on Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SCOPUS. The following search terms were used with various permutations; shoulder, skin, microbiome, infection, colonization, commensal, microbiota, flora. The terms ‘shoulder’ and ‘shoulder AND skin’ were combined with the other 6 terms for a total of 12 searches per database. Two independent reviewers conducted the review with a third reviewer available to resolve differences of interpretation. Studies were eligible if they were human studies of patients undergoing shoulder surgery (or surgical preparation therapy) with a shoulder that had not previously been operated on, where microbial samples were reported. Studies were excluded if they were systematic reviews and meta-analyses, animal studies, cadaveric studies, studies of patients under the age of 18 and studies including postoperative shoulders. Results: The search methodology yielded 47 eligible studies for analysis, with a total of 3283 patients. Native shoulder sampling yielded positive organisms in 50.8% of all samples (95% confidence interval [CI] = 41.8%-59.8%, I2 = 97.9%, P = .000). The predominate organism reported was C. acnes, with 29% of studies specific for C. acnes, and a total of 52 other organisms detected in the native shoulder. Skin preparation solutions reduced the skin colonization rate of 55.7% (95% CI = 32.7%-78.6%, I2 = 98.2%, P = .000) to 43.5% (95% CI = 29.5%-57.5%, I2 = 98.2%, P = .000). Despite the high rates of colonization detected under sterile conditions, of 42 studies and 3083 patients reporting postoperative outcomes, the infection rate was 1.8% (95% CI = 0.5%-3.2%, I2 = 0.0%, P = .612). Conclusion: There is strong evidence to support the existence of a native shoulder microbiome. Further research is required to characterize this microbiome and correlate it to disease and health states.

Food bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, functional proteins and unsaturated fatty acids, have been used as important ingredients of functional foods due to their diverse biological activities. However, the low aqueous solubility, poor stability and limited bioavailability of these compounds limit their applications in the food industry. The preparation of delivery carriers from natural food macromolecules offers a promising approach to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. As a novel delivery system, intelligent responsive delivery carriers enable precise targeted and controlled release of bioactive compounds, thus improving their bioavailability. In addition, the delivery carriers have the capacity to effectively improve the added nutritional value, enhance the sensory properties, and extend the shelf life of functional foods. This review summarizes the functional properties of food bioactive compounds, the challenges in their application and their steady-state delivery strategies, with a particular emphasis on the common intelligent responsive delivery carriers and their mechanisms of action. Finally, this article discusses the application of these delivery carriers in functional foods, and provides an outlook on future research on bioactive compound delivery systems.

In this paper, we give results on the stability of homogeneous conformable fractional order systems using assumptions on a family of compact sets and provide the stabilization of an affine control system and given an explicit homogeneous feedback control with the requirement that a control Lyapunov function exists and satisfying a homogeneous condition and we present existence and uniqueness theorems for sequential linear conformable fractional differential equations.

Objective The unclear clinical outcomes of two different zero‐profile implants with different number of screws in hybrid surgery restricts the choice of patient‐specific implants. This study aims to compare two different implants on its postoperative subsidence, motion stabilization and clinical outcomes. It also provides references to the most reasonable implant choice in fusion surgery. Methods This was a retrospective study. From February 2014 to March 2022, 173 patients who underwent hybrid surgery were included. Among them, 122 received surgery with a four screw implant, while 51 received a two screw implant. We analyzed the significance of patient‐specific factors, radiographic factors and clinical outcomes. The Wilcoxon rank sum test, t tests/analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and stepwise multivariate logistic regression were adopted for statistical analysis. Results No statistically significant difference was observed between the two screw and four screw groups in terms of immediate, middle, and long‐term stability and fusion rate (p > 0.05). However, the two screws group had higher FSU height subsidence at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and higher rates of significant subsidence at three and 6 months postoperatively (p

In order to solve the problem of rancidity of rice polishing powder and improve its physicochemical properties, the effects of twin-screw extrusion under different extrusion temperatures on the storage stability and nutritional properties of rice polishing powder were studied. Under the optimum extrusion temperature, the rice polishing powder (SR-1, SR-2, SR-3, and SR-4) with different particle sizes was prepared by low temperature impact mill (LTIM) under different air classifier speeds (300, 600, 1200, and 1800 r/min). The effects of the air classifier speed on volatile aroma compounds and physicochemical properties of rice polishing powder were studied. The results showed that the lipase activity of rice polishing powder decreased significantly from 12.94 mg/g to 2.18 mg/g after extrusion treatment. Stored at the 150th day, the fatty acid value of untreated rice polishing powder was 255.57 mg KOH/100 g, while the fatty acid value of the extruded sample was only 121.90 mg KOH/100 g. After extrusion treatment, dietary fiber, γ-aminobutyric acid, and γ-oryzanol in rice polishing powder were also well retained. LTIM promoted the release of volatile aroma compounds in rice polishing powder, and SR-3 had the highest concentration. Based on the partial least square discriminant, 9 differentially labeled components were screened according to the importance projection of variables, and it was confirmed that SR-3 had the strongest flavor. With the decrease of particle size, the specific surface area of rice polishing powder gradually increased, and the bulk density showed a decreasing trend. The whiteness index increased significantly from 66.08 to 76.61. Water absorption ability and solubility increased significantly from 1.77 g/g and 24% to 2.37 g/g and 31%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that LTIM destroyed hydrogen bonds in starch particles, resulting in more free hydroxyl group exposure. The results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the processing of high-quality rice polishing powder.

Introduction. The study of the systemic exposure of a new original drug is an essential part of its preclinical study. 5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide is a new selective carbonic anhydrase II inhibitor for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Methods for the quantitative determination of this compound and its N-hydroxy- and N-acetyl metabolites in the plasma of laboratory animals have not been previously developed.Aim. Development and validation of a method of quantitative determination of 5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide and its metabolites N-hydroxy-5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide (M1) and N-acetyl-5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide (M2) in rat and rabbit blood plasma by HPLC-MS/MS.Materials and methods. Protein precipitation by methanol was applied for sample preparation. 5-[2-(morpholine-4-carbonyl)-1,3-oxazole-5-yl]-thiophene-2-sulfonamide was used as an internal standard. A 5 % aqueous solution of ascorbic acid was added to the plasma samples at volume ratio 1 : 2 to prevent decomposition of N-hydroxy-5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide. The combination of sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate was selected as an anticoagulant. Chromatographic separation was performed on Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (150 × 3.0 mm, 3.5 µm) with Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 pre-column (12.5 × 2.1 mm, 5.0 µm) using a mobile phase based on a 0.1 % aqueous solution of formic acid and methanol. Mass spectrometric detection was carried out in the MRM mode using electrospray ionization in negative polarity. The method was tested during a pharmacokinetic study of a 1 % ocular suspension of 5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide on 6 Wistar rats. Blood samples were collected before administration, as well as 30 min, 1 h, 1 h 30 min, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 144 h, 216 h after administration. The non-compartment approach was used for calculation pharmacokinetic parameters.Results and discussion. The developed method has been validated in parameters of selectivity, calibration curve, accuracy and precision, matrix effect, dilution integrity, carry over, reinjection reproducibility, stability. The analytical range of determination of 5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide in plasma was 10–4000 ng/ml, M1 – 1.0–400.0 ng/ml, M2 – 0.1–40.0 ng/ml. The selected combination of anticoagulant and stabilizer solution allows storage of plasma samples in freezing chamber for 28 days.Conclusion. The developed method has been fully validated and confirmed its suitability for quantitative determination of 5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-yl]-furan-2-sulfonamide and its metabolites in the blood plasma of laboratory animals. The method has been successfully used for pharmacokinetic study of 1 % ocular suspension of the drug.

The occipitocervical junction (OCJ) is a complex anatomical region crucial for protecting the lower brain stem, upper spinal cord, and lower cranial nerves. Instability in this area can lead to severe outcomes such as chronic pain, neurological deficits, or death. Various surgical techniques have been developed for OCJ stabilization, particularly using occipital condyle screws, which have shown promise in providing stability and preserving neck rotation. This article presents two cases of OCJ instability caused by metastatic involvement of the C2 vertebra, managed successfully with occipital condyle screw fixation. The first case involved a 22-year-old female with Ewing sarcoma metastasis, and the second case involved a 62-year-old male with multiple myeloma. Both patients exhibited significant improvements in neurological function and cervical stability postoperatively, with observable den remodeling. Our findings suggest that occipital condyle screw fixation is not only feasible but also effective in managing OCJ instability due to metastatic disease. Detailed preoperative evaluation and the use of advanced intraoperative imaging technologies, such as the O-arm and neuronavigation, are essential for maximizing safety and ensuring optimal outcomes. This study underscores the potential of occipital condyle screw fixation as a primary surgical method for stabilizing the OCJ in appropriate cases.

This paper aims to formulate a class of nonlinear hybrid stochastic time-delay neural networks (STDNNs) with Lévy noise. Specifically, the coefficients of networks grow polynomially instead of linearly, and the time delay of given neural networks is non-differentiable. In many practical situations, nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise are unstable. Hence, this paper uses feedback control based on discrete-time state and mode observations to stabilize the considered nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Then, we establish stabilization criteria of $ H_{\infty} $ stability, asymptotic stability, and exponential stability for the controlled nonlinear hybrid STDNNs with Lévy noise. Finally, a numerical example illustrating the usefulness of theoretical results is provided.

Objectives Heavy metals eluted from mine waste pollute surrounding soil and water systems, which can spread to crops and have a harmful effect on the human body. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of recycling discarded mussel shells(MS) and manila clam shells (MC) as stabilizers for the immobilization of arsenic(As) and heavy metals(Pb, Zn) in soil. Methods MS and MC were processed with -#10 mesh natural material, -#20 mesh natural material, and -#10 mesh calcined material and treated at 0-10 wt%. After 1 week or 4 weeks of wet curing, it was eluted with 0.1 N HCl and the concentrations of As, Pb, and Zn in the soil were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy(ICP-OES) analysis. In addition, red lettuce was cultivated in the stabilized soil and the concentration of heavy metals that were transferred to crops was evaluated. The stabilization mechanism was investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(SEM-EDX) analysis. Results and Discussion The stabilization efficiency for arsenic and heavy metals was in the order of natural -#10 mesh < natural -#20 mesh < calcined -#10 mesh. The calcined stabilizer showed a high stabilization efficiency of 98% at a 2 wt% treatment level. Pb was not detected in the red lettuce grown in the stabiliz ed soil, and the standard for leafy vegetables (Pb-0.3 mg/kg or less) was satisfied according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The SEM-EDX analysis revealed that As was stabilized through Ca-As precipitation and heavy metals(Pb, Zn) were stabilized through pozzolanic reactions. Conclusion Stabilizers developed from MS and MC can be effectively applied to the stabilization of As and heavy metal-contaminated soil, and are expected to be used as economical and environmentally friendly stabilizers.

Hybrid optical systems with integrated control mechanisms enable a dynamic adjustment of optical components, ensuring real-time optimization, adaptability to changing conditions, and precise functionality. This control requirement enhances their performance in applications demanding responsiveness, such as autonomous systems, adaptive optics, and advanced imaging technologies. This research introduces a novel approach, employing a dynamic-free Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy sliding mode control (TS-fuzzy SMC) technique, to regulate and stabilize a specific category of chaotic fractional-order modified hybrid optical systems. The method addresses uncertainties and input-saturation challenges within the system. Leveraging a novel fractional calculus definition along with the non-integer type of the Lyapunov stability theorem and linear matrix inequality principle, the TS-fuzzy SMC approach was applied to effectively mitigate and regulate the undesired behavior of the fractional-order chaotic-modified hybrid optical system. Notably, this scheme achieved control without experiencing undesirable chattering phenomena. The paper concludes by offering concrete examples and comparisons, demonstrating how the theoretical findings are applied in real-world scenarios. This provides practical insights into the effectiveness of the proposed approach in diverse applications.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) leaves flavonoid microcapsules (M-LBLF) were prepared using gelatin and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) as wall materials, and the stability and biological activities were investigated. The preparation process of M-LBLF was optimized through response surface methodology. The stability of the product was detected using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis and in vitro simulated digestion. The biological activity of the product was evaluated through free radical scavenging and enzyme activity inhibition experiments. Results showed that, the optimal process conditions for M-LBLF were a core to wall ratio of 1:3.86, a wall material concentration of 1.15%, a stirring temperature of 45 ℃, and an embedding rate of 84.21%. SEM observation showed that most of the surface of the microcapsule particles was smooth, the structure of the capsule wall remained intact, and there were no signs of rupture on the wall material. FT-IR spectra showed a shift in C=O at 1594 cm−1 in Lycium barbarum leaves flavonoids (LBLF), suggesting an electrostatic interaction between LBLF and CMC. XRD spectra showed that due to microencapsulation, the amorphous structure of the product was partially transformed into a crystalline state, resulting in slight changes in the diffraction peak intensity of M-LBLF and LBLF. Thermogravimetric analysis found that microencapsulation improved the high-temperature decomposition, playing a protective role for LBLF. In vitro simulated digestion and antioxidant activity experiments showed that microencapsulation improved the stability of LBLF and retained good antioxidant activity during digestion. In addition, the equations were fitted by multiple linear regression to obtain the semi-inhibitory mass concentration (IC50) of the microcapsules against pancreatic lipase (2.2004±0.03 mg/mL) and against α-amylase (2.188±0.02 mg/mL), suggesting that M-LBLF was able to inhibit both pancreatic lipase activity and α-amylase activity, which suggested that it had the potential to regulate the glycolipid metabolism activity. This research would provide a foundation for improving the stability of flavonoids extracted from goji leaves and developing the related nutritional and health foods.

Abstract Soil contamination with heavy metals presents a substantial environmental peril, necessitating the exploration of innovative remediation approaches. This research aimed to investigate the efficiency of nano-silica in stabilizing heavy metals in a calcareous heavy metal-contaminated soil. The soil was treated with five nano-silica levels of 0, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg and incubated for two months. The results showed that nano-silica had a specific surface area of 179.68 $${\text{m}}^{2}/\text{g}$$ m 2 / g . At 1000 mg/kg, the DTPA-extractable concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr decreased by 12%, 11%, 11.6%, 10%, and 9.5% compared to the controls, respectively. Additionally, as the nano-silica application rate increased, both soil pH and specific surface area increased. The augmentation of nano-silica adsorbent in the soil led to a decline in the exchangeable (EX) and carbonate-bound fractions of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr, while the distribution of heavy metals in fractions bonded with Fe–Mn oxides, organic matter, and residue increased. The use of 1000 mg/kg nano-silica resulted in an 8.0% reduction in EX Pb, 4.5% in EX Cu, 7.3% in EX Zn, 7.1% in EX Ni, and 7.9% in EX Cr compared to the control treatment. Overall, our study highlights the potential of nano silica as a promising remediation strategy for addressing heavy metal pollution in contaminated soils, offering sustainable solutions for environmental restoration and ecosystem protection.

Herein, a novel approach was developed for the introduction of stabilizing compounds into polymers through a pre-impregnation process prior to processing, which is expected to improve their dispersion and, consequently, increase their efficacy. Ethylene-norbornene copolymer (EN) pellets were impregnated with quercetin or rutin in ethanol or a mixture of solvents (ethanol-dioxane (3:1)) for 24 h. Then, EN-based samples containing impregnated pellets were manufactured using a laboratory extruder. The research demonstrated that the materials containing impregnated pellets exhibited improved thermo-oxidation resistance, higher antibacterial effect (the number of dead cells increased from 8 to 59%), and satisfactory photostability. This may be a direct result of their better dispersion degree and their more gradual, controlled release from the EN during operation. If we compare the stabilizing effect of both polyphenols, quercetin was more efficient, which may be attributed to the presence of hydroxyl group at the C3 position in the C ring, which could increase the reactivity of the catechol structure of the B ring. The proposed approach effectively solves the issues that arise during the commonly used processing techniques and may facilitate the broader utilization of natural stabilizers in the polymer industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat-resistant energetic materials refer to a type of energetic materials that possess a high melting point, high stability and operational safety. By studying the structures of these energetic materials has showed that the thermal stability can be enhanced by introducing amino groups to form intra/inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, constructing conjugate systems and designing symmetrical structures. This article aims to review the physical and chemical properties of ultra-high temperature heat-resistant energetic compounds and provide valuable theoretical insights for the preparation of ultra-high temperature heat-resistant energetic materials. We also analyze the selected 20 heat-resistant energetic materials with decomposition temperatures higher than 350 °C, serving as templates for the synthesis of various high-performance heat-resistant energetic materials.

Abstract Background Total talus dislocation without ankle (malleoli) fracture is a very rare injury with prevalence of only 0.06% of all dislocations and only 2% of talar injuries, and are usually associated with common complications such as infection, avascular necrosis, and posttraumatic arthritis. The treatment usually involves debridement, reduction, stabilization of the ankle joint, and primary or secondary closure of the wound. Case presentation We present the case of a 40-year-old South Asian woman who was involved in an accident. She was rushed to our hospital, whereby subsequent examination revealed an open total talus dislocation with the talus being exposed in its entirety from a contaminated wound in the medial side. Furthermore, radiograph confirmed total talus dislocation without concomitant malleoli fracture. She was immediately taken to the operating theater whereby debridement and immediate reduction was performed under anesthesia, and the ankle was stabilized with external fixator for about 6 weeks. She is now able to bear weight on the affected ankle with minimal tolerable pain and has normal range of motion of the ankle. Conclusions Open total talus dislocation without concomitant malleoli fracture is a rare injury. Reduction of the talus in combination with complete wound debridement potentially successfully avoids infection, provides early revascularization preventing avascular necrosis, and preserves the normal ankle anatomy.

Nowadays, biopolymer stabilization as a promising eco-friendly approach in soft ground improvement has attracted wide attentions. However, the feasibility of using biopolymer as a green additive of cement-stabilized dredged sediment (CDS) with high water content is still unknown. In this study, guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG) were adopted as typical biopolymers, and a series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS), splitting tensile strength (STS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural properties of XG- and GG-modified CDSs considering several factors including biopolymer modification, binder–soil ratio and water–solid ratio. Furthermore, the micro-mechanisms revealing the evolutions of mechanical properties of biopolymer-modified CDS were analyzed. The results indicate that the addition of XG can effectively improve the strength of CDS, while the GG has a side effect. The XG content of 9% was recommended, which can improve the 7 d- and 28 d-UCSs by 196% and 51.8%, together with the 7 d- and 28 d-STSs by 118.3% and 42.2%, respectively. Increasing the binder–soil ratio or decreasing the water–solid ratio significantly improved the strength gaining but aggravated the brittleness characteristics of CDS. Adding XG to CDS contributed to the formation of microstructure with more compactness and higher cementation degrees of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-XG-stabilized DS (CXDS). The micro-mechanism models revealing the interactions of multiple media including OPC cementation, biopolymer film bonding and bridging effects inside CXDS were proposed. The key findings confirm the feasibility of XG modification as a green and high-efficiency mean for improving the mechanical properties of CDS.

Background: Shoulder instability in pediatric and adolescent patients can be treated operatively via arthroscopic or open procedures, but there a paucity of evidence to support the incidence of these treatment modalities over time. It is hypothesized that the overall rate of arthroscopic shoulder stabilization procedures will increase over time. Given advances in open stabilization techniques, we also hypothesized that the rate of open procedures may be increasing. Methods: The Pediatric Health Information System database was queried for patients 19 years or younger who underwent arthroscopic or open surgery for shoulder instability and pediatric orthopedic surgeries between 2009 and 2019. Data from 37 of the 52 pediatric hospitals with Pediatric Health Information System data was included in the analysis. Annual and overall incidence rates were estimated for arthroscopic and open procedures, along with 95% confidence intervals. The yearly incidence for secondary (homolateral revisions) or primary contralateral arthroscopic and open procedures was also examined. Results: 4747 patients underwent primary arthroscopic procedures and 384 patients had primary open procedures. There were 8.2 primary open shoulder stabilization procedures per 10,000 orthopedic surgical patients in 2009, which decreased by 19% to 6.7 per 10,000 orthopedic surgical patients in 2019. There was an increase seen in both arthroscopic and open secondary stabilization procedures. In 2009, there were 0.97 secondary arthroscopic procedures per 10,000 orthopedic surgical patients. This increased by 672% to 7.5 per 10,000 orthopedic surgical patients in 2019. No secondary open procedures were recorded in 2009; however, an increase to 2.6 secondary open procedures per 10,000 orthopedic surgical patients was seen by 2019. Conclusion: This study shows a rise in primary arthroscopic pediatric shoulder stabilization surgeries across the U.S. over the last decade. There was a slight decrease in the rate of primary open shoulder stabilization surgeries and an increase in both arthroscopic and open secondary (homolateral revisions or primary contralateral) shoulder stabilization surgeries, implying an increasing revision burden in this population.

Rice bran, a byproduct of rice processing, holds great nutritional value. However, its application in the food industry is greatly restricted due to its high susceptibility to rancidity and spoilage during storage. Currently, it is primarily used as animal feed with low added value. The presence of lipase and lipoxygenase is the major cause of rapid rancidity of rice bran, and other factors such as water activity, microorganisms and phenolic substances also affect the rancidity reaction. Stabilization treatment of rice bran is a key prerequisite to achieving high-value utilization of the product. This paper provides an overview of the rancidity mechanism of rice bran, the common methods for stabilizing rice bran and their impact on its quality and nutritional characteristics, with a view to providing guidance and reference for the research and development of rice bran as a food-grade raw material.

The necessity of stabilization of ring blanks of low rigidity is substantiated. For stabilization a 6-position loading scheme with uniformly distributed radial forces is proposed, with the possibility to transform into 3- and 2-position loading schemes. The stress state of the ring under loading by uniformly distributed radial forces is analyzed, and calculation dependences for determining the total stress at 6-, 3- and 2-position loading schemes are proposed. Calculation dependences are offered for determination of force parameters of the device with lever-joint mechanism for creation of stresses in the ring at the level of conditional yield strength. According to the proposed method of calculation of force parameters, an example of calculation is given for a ring made of 40ХМФА (40KhMFA) steel with an outside diameter of 392 mm. The developed recommendations can be used at creation of devices for stabilization and removal of residual stresses in ring blanks, which are necessary for manufacture of critical products in such areas as auto- and aircraft construction, precision engineering, military industry.

Youth homelessness represents a persistent and significant challenge for service sectors with limited best practice guidance. Housing supports, in particular, are widely deployed, with the practice-oriented literature providing little detail regarding service design beyond broad domains such as employment support and life skills coaching. The present multiple case study investigation was designed to develop a preliminary understanding of the guiding principles that attend the development of interventions that support youth exiting homelessness in the Canadian context. These case studies were conducted with a diverse group of five organizations recognized as sector leaders, with findings considered in light of practice standards from the better-established adult housing literature. Key findings with respect to service models included the strategies used to provide flexible, culturally responsive, tailored services with an emphasis on specialist support. Implementation factors included the navigation of strategic partnerships, the use of data in capacity-building, and the benefits and drawbacks of larger, centralized service environments versus smaller, dispersed environments. Youth-specific considerations in housing stabilization models are highlighted. This work contributes to a growing body of literature that seeks to articulate best practices in the effort to address and prevent youth homelessness.