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Sustainable valorisation of waste-derived plastic rich materials into porous carbon materials for adsorption cooling applications
No full textThe thermochemical valorisation of waste materials rich in plastics offers a sustainable approach for waste reduction and the generation of high-value products, aligning with the European Green Deal and circular economy principles. This study investigates the conversion of three solid waste streams: refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal (RDF_MW) and industrial (RDF_IW) sources and tyre-derived fuel (TDF) into activated carbons for application in adsorption cooling systems. A two-step activation process, combining pyrolysis at 600 °C with subsequent steam (850 °C) or chemical (KOH at 800 °C) activation, was employed to enhance porosity and surface area. RDF_IW-derived carbon activated with KOH achieved a maximum BET surface area of 955 m²/g, while methanol adsorption tests showed an uptake exceeding 40 %. Heavy metal analysis revealed significant Zn contamination in TDF (up to 37,415 mg/kg), while Cr, Pb, and Sn were prominent in RDF samples; chemical activation reduced Zn content by up to 70 %. Performance testing in methanol-based adsorption chillers showed that RDF_IW_H2O and RDF_IW_KOH samples achieved specific cooling powers (SCP) of 53.5 W/kg and 88.9 W/kg, and coefficients of performance (COP) of 0.631 and 0.673, respectively, comparable to commercial activated carbons (CWH-22: SCP = 95.5 W/kg, COP = 0.615). These findings demonstrate the dual benefit of valorising heterogeneous waste into functional sorbents while enabling energy-efficient, low-grade thermal cooling systems
Editorial: Using methods and approaches from behavioral ecology to address issues in applied animal sciences
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Exploring the perspectives of informal caregivers and healthcare professionals on the quality of care provided within an intensive care unit: a Saudi Arabia experience
No full textPCSK9 in critical illness – it’s not all about lipids
No full textProprotein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of lipid metabolism, binding to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on the cell surface and preventing its recycling, thereby reducing clearance of LDL cholesterol (LDLc) from the circulation. For this reason, it constitutes an alternative therapeutic target for the control of hypercholesterolaemia, with the development of monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 occurring within 12 years of the protein’s discovery. Recent research has also suggested an inflammatory role played by PCSK9, with elevated plasma levels identified in critical illnesses such as sepsis and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, where PCSK9 is thought to reduce bacterial endotoxin clearance and may exacerbate inflammation. Further work is required in order to clarify the exact role played by PCSK9 in extra-hepatic tissues, and the potential benefits of its pharmacological inhibition
International consensuses and guidelines on management of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS), the Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology (AAPPO) and the Academia Retina Internationalis (ARI)
No full textThe management of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) presents both established consensus and ongoing controversies, particularly regarding emerging therapies (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents [VEGF], subthreshold laser and intravitreal steroids) versus conventional approaches (laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy). The Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS), the Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology (AAPPO) and the Academia Retina Internationalis (ARI) saw such a need to establish consensus and controversial statements on PDR management. They formed an international panel of experts (IPE) comprising 26 experts from 13 countries/territories to establish the statements, including diagnosis and diagnostic technologies, screening approaches, laser, anti-VEGF, intravitreal steroids and vitrectomy and related techniques in PDR management. The objective is to synthesize evidence-based real-world practice recommendations from leading global experts to guide the management of PDR. Of the 37 statements, the IPE reached consensus (75 % voted as "Strong Agreement" or "Agreement") on 28 (76 %) statements. Controversial statements, such as panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in special scenarios, use of steroids in cases unresponsive to anti-VEGF and PRP and during vitrectomy to improve visual oucomes, and specific surgical techniques such as internal limiting membrane peeling and drainage retinotomy in the treatment of PDR are identified. Given its high prevalence and propensity for visual morbidity, and the recent advances in surgery for PDR, confirming the standard practices and deliberating on controversies to find the best approach by international experts would help improve the management of PDR further
Governing AI decison-making: balancing innovation and accountability
No full textThis article explores the growing use of algorithmic models to make or inform decisions within the public sector. Amidst a climate of accelerating investment, expanding system applicability, and rapid technical progress, it concentrates on how key jurisdictions, most prominently the “digital empires” of the United States, European Union, and China, construct the problems associated with such algorithmic systems, and how these constructions impact governance. Drawing on an example from the legal sphere, it highlights both the potential efficiency gains and the increasing tensions concerning automation and fairness. This article then adopts aspects of Carol Bacchi’s Foucauldian-inspired “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” framework to trace how divergent problem framings, ranging from the United States’ emphasis on an “innovation gap,” to the European Union’s “trust deficit,” and China’s “stability risk,” have produced distinct regulatory trajectories. Yet, despite these divergent framings and national strategies, this article argues that a common post-2024 trend emerges, revealing a general shift toward regulatory softening, one that privileges innovation over precautionary safeguards. This convergence raises critical questions about the future direction and resilience of “algorithmic decision-making” governance.<br/
Injury epidemiology in cyclocross. A preliminary study
No full textBackgroundCyclocross is a growing discipline in competitive cycling, yet there is a lack of epidemiological data on injury patterns within the discipline. This study aimed to describe the incidence, type, location and mechanisms of injuries sustained during a national-level cyclocross event, using standardized injury surveillance methodology.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted at the 2025 British National Cyclocross Championships. Medical staff recorded injuries using the IOC consensus statement on injury and illness reporting, with adaptations from the UCI cycling-specific injury surveillance framework. Injury incidence was calculated per 1000 athlete-hours, and injury characteristics were analyzed by sex, mechanism, and severity.ResultsOverall, 6.7% of 534 cyclists sustained an injury during the event. The overall injury incidence was 98.62 injuries per 1,000 athlete-hours (95% CI: 69.07–136.53). Most injuries (91.9%) were acute. Lacerations (38%) and joint sprains (17%) were the most common diagnoses, with the knee (43%) being the most frequently affected body part. The mean injury severity was 6.83 ± 15.44 days. The primary mechanism of injury was contact with the ground or course features (56.8%). While males sustained more injuries, females experienced significantly longer time-loss per injury (mean 22.5 days vs. 4.88 days; p < 0.05).ConclusionsCyclocross is associated with a high rate of predominantly moderate acute injuries, differing from injury patterns seen in road or mountain biking. These findings highlight the need for discipline-specific injury prevention strategies and further research, particularly into sex-based differences and risk mitigation during technical sections of races.<br/
Sexual harassment in early adolescence: findings from a cross-sectional survey in secondary schools in England
No full textThere is little research on sexual harassment among younger adolescents or on how rates vary by gender and other student/school characteristics. Drawing on data from 50 English schools, we explored the prevalence and patterning of victimization in the past year among students aged 12-13. Of 7,060 participants, almost a tenth had experienced sexual harassment. Girls, non-binary students, and sexual-minority students reported the highest rates. Student commitment to school was associated with reduced victimization, particularly among straight students and in higher-attaining schools. Sexual harassment is a priority area for intervention, particularly for students facing the highest risk
Constant-time modulo: a secure hardware design against timing attacks
No full textIn the evolving landscape of cybersecurity andcryptographic hardware, it is critical to ensure resistance againsttiming side channel attacks. This paper investigates the timingside channel vulnerability in a hardware-friendly modulo algorithm. Through detailed experimental analysis, we demonstratethat the execution time of the existing implementation varies significantly with input values, making it susceptible to timing-basedattacks. To address this, we propose a constant-time moduloalgorithm that eliminates timing leakage. We further integratethis secure implementation into Number Theoretic Transform(NTT) and Inverse NTT (INTT) modules, key components insignal processing and post-quantum cryptography, and evaluatetheir performance. Our results show that while the securedesign introduces minor area and power overheads, it effectivelymitigates timing side channel risks, making it suitable for securecryptographic hardware applications