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Exploring the potential of nano-enhanced lemongrass biodiesel blends with hydrogen premixing for improved CI engine behaviour

Abstract Using fossil fuels in compression ignition (CI) engines is still a challenge today due to concerns over environmental pollution and the long-term sustainability of fuel sources. Addressing these difficulties necessitates the development of alternate fuel methods that can boost engine performance while simultaneously lowering emissions. The current study focusses on employing a 20% blend of lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) biodiesel and diesel supplemented with MWCNTs at 40 ppm (also known as “nano fuel of Lemongrass oil”) and investigating the usage of this mixture in an unmodified CI engine. To improve the performance of the nano-fuel, 5LPM hydrogen was premixed through intake manifold. This led to significantly better combustion, thanks to improved mixing inside the cylinder and quicker flame spread. Notably, adding 5 LPM hydrogen to the nano additive biodiesel made from lemongrass biodiesel resulted in a 12.6% boost in brake thermal efficiency. When compared to the LG20 blend operation, these studies revealed a 15.34% reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), a 19.6% decrease in carbon monoxide (CO) pollutants, a 5.35% decrease in unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) pollutants, and an 8.33% reduction in smoke opacity. As a result, we propose further research into hydrogen premixing in conjunction with nano-enhanced Lemongrass biodiesel to increase CI engine performance. It has been noticed that LG20 + MC + H2 fuel increases BTE by 12.6% and reduces BSFC by 15.33% when compared to LG20 fuel. These findings demonstrate the synergistic effect of hydrogen premixing and nanoparticle-enriched biodiesel in increasing CI engine performance and lowering emissions, indicating a possible path towards cleaner and more efficient engine operation.

Watt-level high-OSNR continuous wave tunable figure-8 holmium-doped fiber laser for OWC systems

The 2000 nm optical transmission window is gaining significant interest for terrestrial and deep-space optical wireless communication (OWC) due to its exceptionally low atmospheric absorption. Therefore, high-power Holmium-doped fiber lasers (HDFLs) with high optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) are attractive solutions for OWC systems because they can enhance transmission efficiency, improve signal quality over longer transmission distances, and ensure reliable communication in challenging atmospheric conditions by operating in the eye-safe 2000 nm wavelength range. In this work, we propose the design of a watt-level, high-OSNR continuous wave (CW) HDFL tunable in 2022-2140 nm wavelength range based on figure-8 (F8) cavity and a single in-band backward pump source. The performance of F8 HDFL is evaluated considering optimized pumping configuration, length of Holmium-doped fiber (HDF), and Ho 3+ ions density. Maximum output powers of 0.842 W, 1.5 W, and 2 W are obtained at lasing wavelength of 2046.7 nm for 20%, 40%, and 60% of coupling ratios, respectively. Highest slope efficiency (SE) of 51.8% is achieved at 2046.7 nm for 60% of coupling ratio considering optimized parameters. OSNR and linewidth (LW) in the range of 30.4-93.3 dB and 18.5-19.9 MHz, respectively are obtained when laser is tuned in 2022-2140 nm wavelength range. A power fluctuation around 0.3 dB at lasing wavelengths of 2022 nm and 2100 nm for fifteen iterations, each taken at five-minute interval is observed for 20% coupling ratio. Finally, the effect of pair induced quenching (PIQ) at laser’s output power is analyzed. A negligible penalty of around 7 mW is observed in output power of the laser at 2046.7 nm for 20% coupling ratio.

Self-dialogue with age-congruent versus age-incongruent avatars in immersive virtual reality

Acoustic-based detection of debonding in thin-layer semi-rigid base asphalt pavements using a-weighted sound pressure levels

Thin-layer interlayer debonding in semi-rigid base asphalt pavements is difficult to detect with conventional techniques due to their limited sensitivity. This study proposes a novel acoustic-based detection approach that utilizes a distributed elastic variable damping (DEVD) Maxwell model and introduces an A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) index to enhance detection of small-scale debonding. Comprehensive numerical simulations were integrated with full-scale experiments to analyze acoustic signals under different excitation modes and debonding scenarios. The results show a strong correlation between the A-weighted acoustic metrics and debonding area, and the proposed method reliably distinguishes thin debonding layers that ground-penetrating radar (GPR) could not detect. Our acoustic method demonstrated superior sensitivity to thin-layer debonding, highlighting its potential as a non-destructive tool for early pavement damage detection and improved road maintenance.

Ultrasound-driven artificial muscles can grasp, flex and swim

Imitation performance biases are moderated by perceived accuracy in golf putting

Pollen-foraging preferences of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) based on plant bloom timing in an urbanized Northeast U.S. habitat

To successfully provision the colony with protein and other essential nutrients, honey bee colonies track ephemeral floral food sources and make adaptive group decisions about which pollen species to reject, which to collect, and in what quantities. This descriptive study has two objectives; 1) to document pollen diet-choice decisions (both acceptance and rejection) in freely foraging honey bee colonies at high temporal resolution over an entire foraging season, and 2) to create a phenological calendar for the mutualism between honey bees and their pollen-food source plants that can be used to assess possible future phenological mismatch. We used pollen traps to harvest pollen weekly from two honey bee colonies from May until October (2023) to determine the relative abundances of pollen sources utilized. We simultaneously monitored in the field plant-bloom timeframes of 41 known honey bee pollen-source plants within the colonies’ foraging range. Honey bees collected at least 33 plant species in detectable amounts, with an average of 6 species in any single 24-hour colony harvest. An average of 13.7 known food sources were in bloom per week, with foragers utilizing 5.6 sources on average per week, showing that rejection of food sources is a major element of pollen-diet choice. The identity of accepted and rejected sources fluctuated every week. Foragers adopted novel pollen source species constantly throughout the season, on average 2.3 new sources per week, suggesting effective tracking of ephemeral floral sources which was intertwined with reliance on a set of abundant perennial herbs. These data provide a unique high-resolution picture of adaptive group foraging decisions in honey bees over an entire foraging season. Pollinator diet-choice dynamics are increasingly important to understand because they not only drive angiosperm reproduction in both natural and agricultural ecosystems but also are expected to be impacted strongly by climate change.

Carbon implications of wood harvesting and forest management

Insight into immunoregulatory and neuromodulatory capability of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus and Bacteroides xylanisolvens human gut microbiota isolates

Caregiver psychological burden of RSV Hospitalization of children 2 years of age and under

Objectives Caregiver psychological burden has been reported among premature children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study addresses two objectives: 1) assessing the psychological burdens of stress and anxiety among caregivers of otherwise healthy children 2 years of age and under hospitalized with RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI); and 2) analyzing sociodemographic and clinical factors related to these psychological burdens. Study Design We prospectively recruited caregivers of children ≤2 years of age hospitalized with RSV LRTI at Primary Children’s and Riverton Hospitals, Salt Lake City, Utah, during the 2019–2022 RSV seasons. Data came from a survey that included the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAIAD) and patients’ medical records. Relationships between sociodemographic and clinical factors and caregiver stress and anxiety were assessed using linear regression models. Results In all, 146 caregivers completed the survey in-hospital and 109 at 2 weeks post-discharge. Substantial levels of stress and anxiety were observed. Over 50% rated more than half of the PSS items as very or extremely stressful, and over 80% rated three specific items as extremely stressful: 87% felt helpless about how to help their child, 85% were concerned about their child’s unusual breathing, and 81% felt unable to protect their child from pain and painful procedures. On most STAIAD items, we observed an increase in positive outlook and a decrease in negative outlook items between hospitalization and two weeks post-discharge, with the greatest change seen in reduced worry about things that don’t matter. Caregiver’s increased stress and anxiety were significantly associated with Hispanic ethnicity, non-White race, lower household income, and more intensive respiratory support types. Household income was an important factor influencing the relationship between ethnicity and caregiver stress and anxiety. Conclusions The hospitalization of children ≤2 years of age with RSV lower respiratory tract infection remains a major source of psychological burden on caregivers. The difference in burden by ethnicity, race and income identified highlights the importance of seeking equity in the distribution of RSV immunoprophylaxis and maternal vaccines for prevention.

We need a new Turing test to assess AI’s real-world knowledge

Erythrocyte aggregation kinetics for studying the vascular phase of inflammation in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome or acute stroke

Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices are associated with lower rates of postoperative complications compared to ultrasonic devices in vulvar cancer surgery

Introduction Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices (EBVS) and ultrasonic devices (US) – collectively known as advanced hemostasis devices (AHDs) – are considered equally feasible in laparoscopic procedures. However, US devices have been demonstrated to be more susceptible to abnormal heat accumulation when activation cycles are rapidly repeated, causing results from laparoscopic procedures to be poorly translated to vulvar cancer surgery. In this study, we aimed to determine whether EBVS and US are comparable in terms of peri- and postoperative morbidity in vulvar cancer surgery. Methods This retrospective single-center study comprised patients who underwent a primary vulvectomy, partial vulvectomy, or radical local resection with an AHD in Tampere University Hospital, Finland, in 2011–2023. Our primary outcome measure was the Clavien-Dindo grade, which measures the incidence and severity of postoperative complications in the early (30-day) postoperative period. Secondary outcome measures were blood loss, postoperative blood transfusions, operative time, the total volume of groin drain output, and length of hospital stay. Results Eighty-six patients were included (EBVS n = 45, US n = 41). Postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grades II – V) were significantly less common in the EBVS group compared to the US group (60% vs 85% in the EBVS and US groups, respectively; p = 0.015). The difference was driven by a discrepancy in grade II complications (49% vs 71%), which consisted primarily of infections in both groups. In a multivariable regression analysis adjusting for the extent of surgery, the use of an EBVS device was independently associated with a lower likelihood of postoperative complications compared to US (aOR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1–0.9 for EBVS vs US; p = 0.030). Both the amount of operative blood loss (median (IQR) 50 (45–200) ml vs 150 (88–400) ml; p = 0.005) and length of hospital stay (median (interquartile range) 6 (4–8) vs. 8 (6–10) days; p = 0.002) were lower in the EBVS group, but surgical device did not independently predict the highest quartile of either variable. The amount of postoperative blood transfusions, operative time, or groin drain output did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusions The data from this study suggests electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices could reduce early postoperative complications, especially those related to the surgical site, in vulvar cancer surgery compared to ultrasonic devices. Prospective studies are needed to ensure the generalizability of the results.

Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in Jigjiga City, Ethiopia

Characterisation of the bacterial and archaeal microbiota in fresh colostrum collected from a single, spring-calving dairy herd

There is increasing evidence to support the existence of a naturally occurring colostral microbiome, which may influence the development of the gastrointestinal microbiota and immune function of the calf. The objective of this study was to characterize the prokaryotic community of colostrum collected fresh (within 2h parturition) from primi- and multiparous Holstein-Friesian (n = 17) and Jersey (n = 10) cows. Extracted microbial DNA underwent qPCR and Illumina amplicon sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. High throughput amplicon sequencing data was analysed using a variety of R packages. Taxonomy was assigned using the SILVA database (v. 138.1). No effect of breed or parity was observed on alpha (α; Shannon) diversity and community composition. The mean Shannon score was 3.33 (SE 0.14), indicating a diverse community within sample. A total of 681 genus-level amplicon sequence variant (ASV) groups were identified prior to filtering for relative abundance (RA) of >0.05%. Nineteen bacterial genera were identified as core. The predominant bacterial phyla observed were Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Actinomycetota . Community membership consisted of common gut commensals, with many members exhibiting diverse metabolic functions. Within the archaeal community, Methanobrevibacter had the highest RA , accounting for 85.99%. No observed differences between breeds suggests that farm origin may be more influential than breed on microbiota composition. The presence of archaea and strict anaerobes highlights the need to investigate the existence of an entero-mammary pathway in cattle. This is the first study jointly characterising bacteria and archaea in colostrum from different breeds from the same dairy herd under pasture-based conditions. The diverse bacterial community observed warrants further investigation into its role in calf health in early life. Specific microbes, like Lachnospiraceae , should be investigated for their potential in the development of probiotics and preventative practices for better calf health.

Adjunctive smart ring monitoring during digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia

A retrospective analysis of specialty match rate and gender trends in Canadian residency applications (2019–2024)

Background This study examines Canadian medical graduate (CMG) match outcomes from 2019 to 2024, focusing on applicant numbers, gender distribution, and match success. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using publicly available data from the CaRMS match reports. Specialty-specific application numbers and first-choice match rates were extracted. Match rates were calculated as the number of matriculates divided by the number of applicants, while competitiveness was determined by the number of first-choice applications per available position. Specialties were categorized into clinical, surgical, and diagnostic disciplines for trend analysis. Results From 2019 to 2024, CMG applicants decreased slightly from 5380 to 5346, while the total quota increased from 2800 to 2918. Family medicine saw a significant decrease in applications (r² = −0.849, p = 0.03), while anesthesiology had a significant increase (r² = 0.950, p < 0.01). Diagnostic disciplines like neuropathology decreased significantly (r² = −0.887, p = 0.02), while diagnostic radiology increased (r² = 0.842, p = 0.03). Surgical disciplines, including plastic surgery, had steady increases, with vascular surgery doubling its applications by 2023. Female applicants increased in clinical and surgical specialties but decreased in diagnostics. Match rates improved in family medicine (r2 = 0.964, p < 0.01), medical genetics (r2 = 0.817, p = 0.04), psychiatry (r2 = 0.839, p = 0.04), public health (r2 = 0.939, p < 0.01), and diagnostic and clinical pathology (r2 = 0.850, p = 0.03), while diagnostic radiology (r2 = −0.825, p = 0.04) declined. Female applicants had higher match rates in ophthalmology and pediatric neurology, while males led in orthopedic surgery. Conclusion Shifts in Canadian residency match trends from 2019 to 2024 may reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving societal priorities. Ongoing monitoring of these trends is essential to ensure alignment with healthcare needs.

Trust and science: the essential elements missing from plastics treaty talks

Gorilla knuckle-walking mechanics suggest independent evolution in African great apes

Tropistry: A registry-based modular platform to improve care of neglected tropical diseases in nonendemic settings—Study protocol with two targeted conditions: acute schistosomiasis and cutaneous/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are increasingly encountered in nonendemic settings due to migration, international travel, and global mobility. Their clinical management is often challenging: evidence from endemic regions is limited or not directly applicable, and healthcare providers are frequently unfamiliar with their diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, there is substantial heterogeneity in diagnostic workup, therapeutic choices, and follow-up strategies, which may affect patient outcomes and complicate guideline development. Given the sporadic presentation of these diseases across individual centers and the overall low caseload in nonendemic settings, conducting randomized controlled trials to define optimal strategies is largely unfeasible. To address these gaps, we designed Tropistry, a modular, multicenter registry that integrates harmonized data collection with embedded expert-informed clinical guidance. Methods Tropistry is an ambispective, multicenter registry planned for implementation across Belgian and European sites. Its modular structure will allow the sequential integration of disease-specific components, initially focusing on acute schistosomiasis and cutaneous/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (CL/MCL), selected for their sporadic occurrence, clinical complexity, and lack of standardized management. Data will be collected through REDCap-based electronic case report forms aligned with up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations to ensure harmonized and comparable data collection. Embedded expert-informed guidance will support clinicians unfamiliar with these diseases, complemented by expedited access to ITM experts via TROPmail and aggregated feedback through an interactive R Shiny-based dashboard. A structured evaluation framework will assess feasibility, usability, data quality, user engagement, and treatment adherence to ensure the platform’s utility and validity. Expected impact By centralizing harmonized data on diagnostic and therapeutic practices, Tropistry aims to address critical knowledge gaps in managing NTDs in nonendemic settings. For the initial targeted conditions, it will help clarify optimal strategies, such as the combination of corticosteroids and praziquantel for acute schistosomiasis and best practices for therapy and follow-up in CL/MCL. Beyond data collection, Tropistry will provide embedded expert-informed guidance, interactive dashboards, and direct access to ITM experts to support clinicians and promote standardized care. Its modular design will enable expansion to other challenging NTDs, while the built-in evaluation framework ensures continuous assessment and optimization of feasibility, usability, and clinical utility. Ultimately, Tropistry seeks to strengthen collaboration between reference centers and non-specialized facilities and generate robust real-world evidence to inform clinical practice, guideline development, and future trials.