Abstract: The modern prosthetic foot market is characterized by a pronounced polarization between affordable but low-function devices and high-performance yet costly composite prosthe-ses. The aim of this study was to develop and comprehensively evaluate cost-effective, functional prosthetic feet manufactured by fused deposition modeling (FDM). An iterative design methodology was employed, combining finite element analysis to optimize the biomechanical response of the device, incorporation of user-specific requirements and ex-perimental validation. Two TPU 95A-based 3D-printed prosthetic foot designs were de-signed and developed, and their strength and functional characteristics were assessed numerically under the ISO 22675:2024 normative loading cycle. Bench-top mechanical tests were conducted on the fabricated prototypes. Functional performance was evaluated by a transtibial amputee using an inertial motion capture system to analyze gait kinemat-ics. The results demonstrated that both designs operate predominantly within the elastic range with an adequate safety margin. The pilot gait assessment indicated biomechani-cally acceptable walking kinematics for both prototypes, with a subjective preference for the smoother rollover provided by Model 2.

Abstract: Background Malawi remains endemic for some preventive chemotherapy-neglected tropical diseases requiring mass drug administration. Challenges persist in controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths, particularly in rural schools, despite efforts in the mass treatment with drugs such as praziquantel and albendazole. School feeding programs improve child health, education, and social stability, yet they have not been fully scaled nationwide, leaving gaps in coverage. Despite government efforts, overall drug treatment uptake is notably lower in non-feeding schools, with potential barriers linked to social, economic, and logistical factors. This study explored the challenges affecting the uptake of drugs in schools without a feeding program and identified key factors that may hinder treatment coverage and program effectiveness. Methods The study was nested in Malawi within the Deworm3 clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT03014167), a multi-country cluster randomized study designed to assess the feasibility of interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths. Data were collected from key players in the implementation of school-based deworming programs, using semi-structured qualitative interviews, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using N-vivo 11. Results Several barriers affected uptake drug uptake. Only 40% of community health workers and teachers reported effectively educating communities about the program and the usefulness of taking the drugs, leading to misinformation, including fears of infertility (30%) and witchcraft (20%). Food scarcity (67%) in schools prevented children from taking the drugs, as they required food beforehand. Some families opposed drugs due to cultural and religious beliefs. Logistical challenges such as delayed drug supply (45%), lack of transport (38%), and no financial incentives (55%), further hindered implementation. Conclusion The study highlighted low treatment coverage in non-feeding schools is due to knowledge gaps, food insecurity, religious and cultural influences, logistical constraints, and financial barriers. Addressing these issues requires enhanced community engagement, improved drug distribution logistics, better incentives for implementers, and consideration of religious and cultural practices when scheduling drug distribution.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is an uncommon but clinically important malignancy, typically diagnosed unexpectedly after cholecystectomy performed for benign indications. Despite its incidental nature, IGBC may present with advanced pathological features and unfavorable outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinicopathological characteristics, surgical management, and prognostic factors of IGBC in a large cholecystectomy cohort from a tertiary referral center. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 19,798 cholecystectomy procedures conducted between January 2010 and December 2025. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer or incomplete clinical or pathological data were excluded. Only cases with invasive incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) were included, whereas dysplasia and carcinoma in situ were excluded. Demographic, clinical, surgical, pathological, and survival data were systematically collected. Results: Incidental gallbladder cancer was identified in 43 patients (0.22%). The mean age was 71.4 ± 9.9 years, and 74.4% were female. Gallstones were present in 88.4% of patients. Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histology (90.7%), and pT2 disease was the most common stage (41.9%), while 25.6% had advanced-stage tumors (pT3–T4). Median OS was 26.0 months, and median DFS was 25.5 months in non-metastatic patients. Pathological T stage was significantly associated with both OS and DFS. Advanced T stage, positive surgical margins, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and increasing tumor size were significantly associated with worse DFS. Re-resection rates were limited, mainly due to advanced age and comorbidities. Conclusion: Although incidental gallbladder cancer is rare, it leads to clinically and oncologically significant outcomes. In this study, pathological T stage emerged as a key prognostic factor influencing both overall survival and disease-free survival. In addition, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and positive surgical margins were identified as the main pathological factors adversely affecting disease-free survival.

Abstract: Motivated by the work of Matsas et al. (2024), which demonstrates that time can serve as the fundamental unit for physical quantities—obviating the need for traditional Length-Mass-Time (LMT) dimensions—this research evaluates the operational resolution of velocity within relativistic frameworks. Utilizing a Lorentz transformation matrix approach, we first validate the Matsas three-clock protocol, confirming the derivation of distance as a function of three proper clock times in Minkowski spacetime and uncovering two novel velocity expressions derived solely from these temporal intervals. The investigation was extended to Tangherlini’s 4D spacetime framework (1958) to test the hypothesis that absolute velocity could be resolved through subluminal signaling. While the initial three-clock scenario resulted in the systematic cancellation of the Base system's absolute velocity, a breakthrough was achieved by applying the Relativistic Doppler Effect within the Tangherlini metric. This approach effectively circumvents the mathematical cancellations prevalent in standard relativistic "null" experiments. The findings reveal that the Tangherlini and Minkowski frameworks are intimately related; the former serves as a necessary complement to the Special Theory of Relativity (STR) rather than an antagonist. This theoretical advancement suggests a plausible methodology for the measurement of absolute velocity without the requirement of instantaneous signals. By resolving the longitudinal Doppler shift within a preferred-frame geometry, this research provides fresh impetus for the historical debate on absolute motion initiated by Poincaré and Einstein.

Abstract: Background: Bovine milk protein-based human milk fortifiers (HMFs) are routinely used in preterm infants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but are associated with potential adverse effects. Plant-derived amino-acid based HMFs are a promising alternative, but comparative data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. This pilot RCT aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and growth outcomes of a novel plant-derived amino-acid based HMF compared to a bovine-derived whole protein based HMF in preterm infants <34 weeks’ gestation. Methods: In this open-label, parallel pilot RCT, preterm infants <34 weeks’ gestation were randomized to a plant-derived amino-acid based HMF (n=66) or a bovine-derived whole protein based HMF (n=70). Primary outcomes were time to reach 180 mL/Kg/day enteral feeds and growth velocities to discharge and 40 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA). Feasibility and safety were also assessed. Analysis followed intention-to-treat approach. The trial was registered (CTRI/2025/06/089133). Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Time to reach enteral feeds of 180 mL/Kg/day did not differ (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.65–1.33; p=0.70). In-hospital weight gain was significantly higher in the plant-derived HMF group (adjusted mean difference 3.20 g/Kg/day, 95% CI 0.46–5.95; p=0.02). This benefit was most evident in exploratory subgroup analyses of infants with birth weight ≥1500g. Length, head circumference growth, and all safety outcomes were similar between groups. Conclusions: The plant-derived amino-acid based HMF was well-tolerated, with a comparable safety profile. Its use was associated with better in-hospital weight gain, indicating it is a potential alternative to bovine-derived whole protein based HMF. These data support the feasibility of definitive trials powered for critical clinical outcomes.

Abstract: Dredging activities regularly occurring in near-shore and coastal waters generate turbid waters within the surface layer with high concentrations of suspended particulate matter collected in bottom sediments. The potential impact of these dredge plumes on natural ecosystems must be monitored using cost-effective methods and observations. Here, we investigate the biogeochemical and optical properties of dredge plumes selected mainly in European and African coastal waters. Laboratory analyses realized on numerous water samples collected in dredge plumes reveal (extremely) high water turbidity and high concentrations of mineral-rich particles in suspension, sometimes mixed to high concentrations of phytoplankton particles. The most peculiar optical property of these particles is a spectral light absorption coefficient significantly flatter than that of suspended particles in natural turbid waters (e.g., river plumes or estuarine maximum turbidity zones). This peculiar optical property is also detected on ocean color satellite data corrected for atmospheric effects, with a water reflectance signal higher than natural turbid waters at short visible wavebands (400-550 nm). Such an atypical spectral signature, that can be detected and mapped from space, makes the operational monitoring of dredge plumes in coastal waters using high spatial resolution (e.g., Sentinel2-MSI) satellite data possible.

Abstract: Constrained Object Hierarchies (COH) offer a unified theoretical foundation for artificial general intelligence (AGI), rooted in neuroscience principles and developed with full mathematical rigor. This paper presents the complete formalization of COH theory, showing how intelligence emerges from hierarchically composed structures governed by adaptive optimization constraints. We introduce precise definitions, establish core properties of soundness and completeness, and situate COH within established mathematical frameworks including category theory, dynamical systems, and information theory. Building on this foundation, we prove three central theorems that demonstrate COH’s practical significance for AGI: guaranteeing high‑fidelity world modeling, preventing jagged or non-smooth intelligence behaviors, and enabling the construction of coherent agentic systems. These results provide quantitative bounds on representational accuracy, generalization performance, and decision-making complexity. Collectively, the findings show that COH delivers a mathematically rigorous, interpretable, and scalable basis for modeling intelligent systems across six heterogeneous domains, while preserving the flexibility required for general intelligence and ensuring explicit guarantees for safety and transparency.

Abstract: Invasive conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is an aggressive, ocular surface malignancy. The mean annual age-standardised incidence rate of 0.45 cases per million per year is increasing with an average annual percent rise of 4.5% and occurs mainly in over 65-year-olds in temperate climates but in a younger demographic in the tropics. Invasive CSCC can lead to vision loss either from the destructive effects of the tumour or side effects of therapy, facial disfigurement from radical surgery, and death from metastases. There is no standardised treatment and not all cases are referred to a specialist ocular oncology centre. Recent progress in cancer immunology and genetics has revolutionised the treatment of cutaneous and head and neck SCCs, which share some similarities to invasive CSCC. A better understanding of invasive CSCC and its preinvasive intraepithelial lesions is required to lead to the development of novel targeted and immunotherapies both for local tumour control, globe sparing alternatives and to prevent disseminated disease. This review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical overview of the current knowledge regarding CSSC, its epidemiology, pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, management, recent advances in targeted and immunotherapies for personalised treatment of this disease, and early diagnosis strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Abstract: We present a first-principles derivation of the hydrogen \( 2S_{1/2}-2P_{1/2} \) Lamb shift correction from the spectral geometry of Riemann zeta zeros. The framework reveals an exact scaling factor 366 connecting pure mathematical expressions to physical observables. Starting from the first four non-trivial zeros \( \gamma_1, \gamma_2, \gamma_3, \gamma_4 \) of \( \zeta(1/2 + i\gamma_n) = 0 \), we derive: (1) the Lamb shift correction \( \Delta\nu_{\text{Lamb}} = 7.314 \) kHz, (2) the exact scaling factor \( 366 = 8\pi^2(\gamma_4/\gamma_1)^2 \), and (3) demonstrate that this factor emerges necessarily from the Enneper-Möbius geometric framework underlying fundamental constants. The derivation is mathematically self-contained, numerically exact to computational precision, and provides a unified geometric origin for \( \alpha^{-1} = 137.035999084 \), \( \ell_P = 1.616255\times10^{-35} \) m, and quantum electrodynamic corrections.

Abstract: Column generation is a fundamental technique for solving large-scale combinatorial optimization problems such as unit commitment and vehicle routing, yet its performance is often limited by dual oscillation. This study explores the intrinsic cause of this phenomenon from the perspective of shadow price theory and demonstrates that dual oscillation arises from the lack of marginal interpretability of Lagrange multipliers when multiple dual solutions coexist. To address this issue, an improved column generation framework is proposed in which traditional multipliers are replaced with minimum-norm multipliers that possess clear economic meaning and act as directional shadow prices. A generalized pricing subproblem is formulated, and partial minimum-norm multipliers are obtained through convex quadratic optimization to guide column generation. Numerical experiments on a simplified single-period unit commitment case show that the proposed approach eliminates invalid column generation and achieves speedy convergence to the optimal solution within only two iterations. The results indicate that the stabilization method enhances the consistency of dual variables and provides a more robust foundation for the theoretical and practical development of column generation algorithms.

Abstract: Water pollution due to insufficient wastewater treatment is a global concern. In this paper coagulation and flocculation as a tertiary unit process was investigated to find the solution for a non-complying wastewater treatment facility. The Palapye Pond Enhanced Treatment and Operation (PETRO) system has not been compliant for a long time with effluent characterised by high turbidity, Biological Oxygen Demand/Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD/COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Nitrates (NO3), and Phosphates (PO4.) The effluent from the plant is released into the stream that drains into the nearby Lotsane dam, posing a lot of danger to the water quality of the dam. The main objective of the project was to investigate the effect of coagulation and flocculation processes at the secondary stage of the wastewater treatment. Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Central Composite Design (CCD) and Multi Response Surface (MRS) were used to optimize the coagulation process and generate regression models to predict the coagulation and flocculation. The performance was evaluated using turbidity, Colour, COD and TSS as response variables. Response surface analysis indicated that the experimental data could be adequately Fitted to quadratic polynomial models. Under optimum conditions the removal efficiency for Al2(SO4)3·18H2O: 91.1% (turbidity), 88.2% (colour), 58.9% (COD), 83.0% (TSS); for FeCl3·6H2O: 93.2%, 88.7%, 63.8%, 91.3%; for Moringa: 91.8%, 85.4%, 56.6%, 83.7%. The optimal removals based on MRS for Al2(SO4)3.18H2O, FeCl3.6H2O and Moringa were 90.7%, 89.7%, 59.9% and 88.5%; 94.7%, 90.8%, 58.1% and 93.8%; 94.0%, 87.2%, 60.1% and 82.1% for turbidity, colour, COD and TSS respectively. This research has demonstrated that the coagulation/flocculation process can be incorporated into the secondary stage of the wastewater treatment facility and the treatment process optimized using RSM, CCD and MRS. The study introduces comparative evaluation of three coagulants within a single RSM-CCD optimization framework, employing desirability functions for multi-response optimization.

Abstract:

Photosensitisation is a clinically significant dermatological and systemic disorder affecting grazing livestock worldwide. The condition arises following the ingestion or dermal exposure to photodynamic compounds that, upon activation by ultraviolet (UV) or visible light, induce tissue injury. Plant‑associated photosensitisation remains one of the most important aetiological categories in veterinary toxicology and may occur via primary (direct phototoxic) or secondary (hepatogenous) mechanisms. This review synthesises current knowledge on the occurrence of photosensitising compounds in plants, their biochemical and toxicodynamic properties, and their clinical relevance in livestock species. Emphasis is placed on major primary photosensitising taxa, including Heracleum spp. and Hypericum perforatum, as well as hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid‑containing plants such as Senecio spp. Mechanistic pathways, plant metabolite ecology, and toxicopathological outcomes are discussed alongside illustrative case material. The review aims to provide a consolidated veterinary toxicology framework for understanding plant‑associated photosensitisation in grazing systems.

Abstract: Earth-centric satellite systems are increasingly constrained by orbital congestion, collision exposure that scales nonlinearly with constellation size, and geometry-driven power intermittency. This paper proposes Heliocentric Artificial Planets (HAPs): modular, actively controlled heliocentric hubs that deliver persistent solar power, autonomous coordination, and data aggregation for distributed satellite networks. We provide quantified scaling laws, explicit numerical evaluations, and a system-of-systems architecture that together demonstrate physical feasibility within known laws of orbital mechanics and electromagnetic transmission. The concept reframes future space systems from spacecraft-centric to infrastructure-centric design and positions heliocentric placement as a structural solution to Earth-orbit scalability limits.

Abstract: Digital transformation has improved visibility and efficiency in supply chains, yet it has delivered limited progress toward circular economy objectives, particularly in emerging markets. Existing research has largely examined digital technologies in isolation or treated artificial intelligence (AI) as a secondary analytical tool, leaving unclear whether circular performance improvements stem from technology adoption itself or from changes in supply chain decision-making. This study addresses this gap by proposing the AI-Driven Circular Digital Supply Chain (AICD-SC) framework, which conceptualizes AI as a central decision orchestrator integrating predictive, prescriptive, and simulation-based capabilities to coordinate closed-loop supply chain processes. The study employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, combining 17 semi-structured interviews with a quasi-experimental Difference-in-Differences analysis of eight manufacturing firms in Mexico and Colombia during 2023–2024. The results show that firms adopting AI-centric decision architectures achieved waste reductions of 18–26% and improvements in material reuse and recovery of 14–17%, while firms relying on digitally enabled but non–AI-centric configurations exhibited no statistically significant circular performance gains. These findings indicate that circular outcomes do not emerge from digitalization alone, but from how supply chain decisions are architected and orchestrated through AI. The study concludes by offering a phased adoption roadmap aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12, providing actionable implications for managers and policymakers in emerging markets.

Abstract: The growing demand for high-quality gluten-free bread requires innovative technological and functional approaches. This study investigates, for the first time, the use of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei SP5, in free and immobilized form on traditional Greek trahanas, for producing GF sourdough bread based on rice and buckwheat flour. Sourdough breads produced with free and immobilized cells displayed greater performance than the control sourdough bread in microbial stability and physicochemical properties, with the immobilized form showing the best results. In particular the application of immobilized L. paracasei SP5 led to gluten free sourdough bread with enhanced acidification (pH 4.55; TTA 12.9 mL) and remarkable lactic (2.20 g/kg) and acetic acid (0.76 g/kg) levels, extending the shelf-life to 7.0 days against mold and 7.5 days against rope spoilage, statistically significantly higher than the other two gluten free sourdough samples. It also showed the strongest antifungal activity and improved technological characteristics, including higher loaf volume (2.84 mL/g), greater height (5.50 cm), and lower baking loss (17.42%). Total phenolic content (87.3 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant capacity were also statistically significantly increased. Overall, immobilized L. paracasei SP5 on trahanas appears to be a promising clean-label strategy to improve quality, shelf-life, and functional value of GF bread.

Abstract: Artisanal and illegal gold extraction in ecologically sensitive tropical landscapes can generate persistent environmental damage and public fiscal liabilities that accumulate even under formal mining prohibitions. Here we develop a decision-grade pipeline that converts observable environmental signals into (i) spatial prioritisation surfaces, (ii) phase-timed remediation portfolios, and (iii) present-value (PV) comparisons of legislative policy pathways under uncertainty, demonstrated for the Crucitas mining landscape (Cutris, northern Costa Rica). Five linked models are implemented. Remote-sensing change proxies are derived using consistent baseline (January 2019–December 2020) and recent (February 2024–January 2025) windows; multi-criteria indices then produce a 0–100 grid-cell prioritisation surface integrating land, water, and hydrologic dimensions. This prioritisation output is translated into a phased remediation portfolio across 1,324 costed grid cells, yielding a gross liability of US$548.0 million (10-year PV; 5% discount rate). PSA-related credits total US$167.3 million PV; enforcing a cell-level non-negativity floor yields a baseline net PV of US$408.0 million (simple gross-minus-credits would be US$380.8 million). Deterministic policy overlays produce policy-adjusted net PV of US$336.1 million under Exp. 24.717 (Δ = −US$71.9 million vs baseline; modeled royalty PV = US$93.8 million), US$418.6 million under Exp. 24.675 (Δ = +US$10.6 million), and US$421.7 million under Law No. 8904 (Δ = +US$13.7 million). Monte Carlo propagation yields a right-tailed baseline distribution (P10–P90 = US$385.4–519.1 million; P50 = US$450.1 million), with exceedance probabilities P(>US$400 million) = 0.8357 and P(>US$500 million) = 0.1786. Policy-adjusted uncertainty bounds indicate substantially reduced exceedance risk under Exp. 24.717 (P(>US$400 million) = 0.3833; P(>US$500 million) = 0.0179) and increased exceedance risk under non-mining pathways. Collectively, the results enable PV-consistent, uncertainty-aware ranking of contested pathways, with outcomes conditional on enforceable offsets, credible enforcement effectiveness, and residual-risk provisioning. The framework is transferable to other contested mining landscapes where phased interventions and policy alternatives require fiscally comparable evaluation.

Abstract: The starting point of this article is the assumption that the “barrier effect” in applied ecology is undisputable and exceptional, because in both human and ecological dimen-sions it constitutes the “causal” and the “nexus”. As regards the human dimension the causative factors are lack of vertical cooperation between scientists and practitioners, as well as polarisation of practitioners’ viewpoints, which leads to neglected horizon-tal relationships. The “humane” nexus arises not only during the law-making stage but also during administrative procedures authorising plans or projects affecting the en-vironment (SEA and EIA procedures). It manifests first in documentary evidence: mul-tiplying advanced analyses, often mediated by computer-model abstractions, creates a time load for public administration. As regards ecological dimension the causative factor results from infrastructural development. The “nexus” concerns fragmentation and loss of habitats, as well as increased mortality rates of specimens during migration routes. Anchored in Land’s remit at the interface of landscape ecology and land-use governance, the authors intend to prove that “applied ecology” should be understood as a “joint venture agreement” between all entities undertaking education, research and exchange of knowledge to restore sustainable ecological phenomena, and to open discussion on transboundary impact assessments of wind-farm developments as re-gards bird migration.

Abstract: Quantum Sensing (QS) is a sub-category of Quantum Technologies (QT). Within defence and military domains, QT is considered an Emerging Disrupting Technology (EDT). QS leverages the properties of Quantum mechanics (QM) to develop and introduce a new family of sensors that are unmatched in performance compared with classical sensors. As such, QS might have the ability to break current stealth technologies and detect avionics, underground facilities, or undersea objects such as submarines and man-made structures, which are key capabilities of a Nuclear Deterrence (NT) strategy. This paper examines the current development in QS and the potential impact of this EDT on military operations with a focus on nuclear deterrence.

Abstract:

Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with numerous risk factors, yet its precise cause remains unclear. Here, we describe a novel framework for AD pathogenesis, whereby diverse risk factors converge on neuromodulatory subcortical systems to confer AD risk or resilience. Neuromodulatory projection neurons are uniquely fragile due to their large size, sparse myelination, and high basal metabolic demands. We propose that the increased prevalence of AD in older adult populations likely reflects a universal weakness within these projection systems, which is increasingly exposed as cellular transport and maintenance mechanisms deteriorate with age. The key insight of this ‘neuromodulatory fragility hypothesis’ is that neuromodulatory system dysfunction is sufficient to explain both tau hyperphosphorylation and b-amyloid (Ab) plaque formation, the two pathological hallmarks of AD. We therefore predict that strengthening or preserving the endogenous functions of these systems in midlife represents the most effective strategy for preventing AD.

Abstract: We propose a framework in which the physical vacuum is described as a spectrally bounded medium rather than an unbounded quantum background. Vacuum fluctuations are restricted to a finite energy interval, bounded above by the hadronic confinement scale and below by a thermal transition scale asso- ciated with hadronic matter formation. This natural double bound renders the vacuum-energy integral finite by construction within the effective SBV framework and yields a finite vacuum energy density without fine-tuning. Within this bounded interval we introduce a spectral density ρ(E), a discrete energy spectrum with degenerate levels, and damping factors that encode the entropic and thermal suppression of different energy modes. We formulate the hypothesis that the stable particles of the Standard Model arise as excitation patterns of this bounded vacuum spectrum. Gauge symmetries appear as symmetry groups of internally degenerate spectral structures, such that the full SU (3)×SU (2)×U (1) gauge structure emerges from this underlying organization. Coupling constants appear as geometric quantities determined by overlap integrals of spectral modes. In addition, we develop a thermodynamic formulation by introducing a spectral entropy and an effec- tive temperature, allowing gravity to be interpreted as a thermodynamic response of the bounded vacuum spectrum to matter–energy distributions, in line with emergent-gravity ideas. We systematically present this emergent spectral vacuum model and explore its implications for vacuum energy, particle physics, and gravitational dynamics.