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INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PCT) is an alternative to cholecystectomy (CCY) in high-risk surgical candidates with severe acute cholecystitis. A subset of these patients ultimately undergo delayed CCY. We therefore compared outcomes of delayed CCY in patients with grade III acute cholecystitis who received a PCT on index admission, to those who did not. METHODS: Non-elective adult hospitalizations for grade III acute cholecystitis that underwent delayed CCY were identified in the 2016-2020 Nationwide Readmission Database. Patients who received a PCT during their index admission comprised the PCT group (others: Non-PCT). Outcomes were assessed for the CCY hospitalization. Entropy balancing was used to generate sample weights to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics. Regression models were created to evaluate the association between PCT and the outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of an estimated 13,782 patients, 13.3 % comprised PCT. Compared to Non-PCT, PCT were older (71.1 ± 13.1 vs 67.4 ± 15.3 years) and more commonly in the highest income quartile (22.5 vs 16.1 %, both p

Simple Summary: The Internet of Things (IoT) can improve small-scale aquaponics, a sustainable farming method that combines fish farming with plant growing in water without soil, by making the process more efficient and profitable by optimizing resource use, closely monitoring water quality, and ensuring the best conditions for both fish and plants to thrive. Aquaponics is beneficial for the environment and can help ensure a steady food supply but presents challenges for small-scale farmers due to a lack of expertise in water chemistry and system upkeep, as well as high operational costs. Identified challenges in aquaponics operation include high water and energy costs, maintaining the right balance of fish and plants, and the risk of mosquitoes breeding in the water. This systematic review offers a comprehensive guide to setting up and maintaining an aquaponics system, including choosing the right fish and plants, designing the system, monitoring water quality, and feeding the fish. The importance of knowledge sharing among farmers is also highlighted to improve aquaponics practices. The integration of IoT into these systems can reduce the need for manual work and improve the availability of information related to system control, which could facilitate further adoption and optimization of aquaponics farming practices. Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics to offer a sustainable approach to agriculture, addressing food security issues with minimal environmental harm. However, small-scale practitioners face challenges due to a lack of professional knowledge in water chemistry and system maintenance. Economic hurdles, such as operational costs and energy-intensive components, hinder the viability of small-scale aquaponics. Selecting suitable fish and plant species, along with appropriate stocking densities, is crucial. Media Bed (MB), Deep Water Culture (DWC), and the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) are commonly used hydroponic techniques. This study outlines optimal conditions, including water quality, temperature, pH, and nutrient concentrations, essential for symbiotic fish and plant cultivation. Integrating IoT technology enhances efficiency and profitability by optimizing resource utilization, monitoring water quality, and ensuring optimal growth conditions. Knowledge sharing among practitioners fosters innovation and sustainability through collaborative learning and best practices exchange. Establishing a community for knowledge sharing is vital for continuous improvement, advancing small-scale aquaponics towards a more efficient and sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing is very popular due to its unique features, such as scalability, flexibility, on-demand service, and security. A competent task scheduler is necessary to boost the efficiency of a cloud system, which executes several tasks at once. With the incorporation of cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) has seen tremendous improvements recently. IoT devices produce various data sets they want to store in particular places on the cloud. Data and resources may be spread across several locations and accessible from the VM through suitable technology. Cloud computing has changed how resources are used, stored, and shared for industrial applications, including data, services, and applications. Virtual Machine Placement (VMP)'s main goal is to map Virtual Machines (VMs) to Physical Machines (PMs), allowing the VMs to be used to their fullest potential without interfering with the PMs that are currently running. VM performs the selected task and stores the data in a cloud location. Recently, many algorithms have worked on only VM selection or VM migration; instead of this, we also work on the data storage related to a particular IoT device in the cloud. It considerably lowers energy usage and offers a list of live VM migrations that must be completed to obtain the best solution and store the data on the cloud in a linked location. The authors present a novel scheduling technique that outperforms other widely recognized scheduling algorithms regarding load balancing in compression, specifically the quality of service parameters. In this research, we propose a Background-based task scheduling (BBTS) algorithm to decrease energy usage and boost throughput while choosing a light VM for any activity. Furthermore, the proposed approach is compared to various task scheduling methodologies, considering multiple performance metrics such as makespan time, resource utilization, success rate, and computation time. The evaluation is conducted on a task set ranging from 100 to 1000, with makespan time ranging from 55 to 654, resource utilization ranging from 35.45 to 42.13, success rate ranging from 88.63 to 96.48, and computation time ranging from 39.12 to 529.46. These metrics are compared to the corresponding algorithms (IWC, WOA, and ALO) utilized in this research study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proliferation of cloud services driven by accessibility, enhanced performance, and cost-effectiveness, cloud service providers continuously seek methods to expedite job completion, thereby augmenting profits and diminishing energy consumption expenditures. In pursuit of this objective, numerous scheduling algorithms have been devised. Nevertheless, many of these techniques address only one specific objective within the scheduling process. This paper introduces a novel approach founded on the Reptile Search Algorithm (RSA). The RSA, albeit effective, predominantly navigates by tracing the path of optimal individuals, often overlooking valuable insights from others. Modified RSA (MRSA) is proposed to enhance RSA by incorporating a distribution estimation methodology to harness the maximum potential of the positional knowledge embedded within the majority population. MRSA is simulated using the Cloudsim tool and evaluated under diverse test conditions. The efficacy of MRSA is assessed by employing various parameters and comparing them with existing algorithms. The findings indicate that MRSA is superior to other algorithms regarding resource utilization, energy consumption, and execution cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group 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 Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group 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.)

Phosphogypsum (PG, CaSO4·2H2O), impure gypsum with phosphate residues, is a by-product of fertilizer industry. Due to calcium and phosphorus in its structure, PG can be evaluated for synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) production. This study provides a two-step reaction sequence for PG-derived synthetic HAp production. Synthesized HAp (s-HAp) particles were calcined at 900 °C for 4 h, followed by characterization studies with respect to commercial bone ash (CBA) sample to be evaluated as its substitute in bone china industry. Ca/P ratio (wt%) of the samples was investigated by microwave-assisted temperature-controlled acid digestion, followed by ICP-OES analysis. Crystallinity of the samples was analyzed by XRD, and morphological structure was investigated by SEM–EDS analyses. ICP–OES analyses revealed that s-HAp and CBA samples have similar Ca/P ratio, 2.0979 for s-HAp and 2.0917 for CBA samples, respectively. Low-intensity β-TCP phases in the XRD patterns of s-HAp samples revealed low crystalline structure. SEM images indicated a uniform distribution with spherical-like morphology in CBA samples, however, a layer-by-layer morphology and amorphous structure was observed in s-HAP samples. Structural and morphological differences indicate that PG-derived s-HAp samples require purification processes and reaction parameters should be further developed to increase yield. However, this study provides a high potential for a novel approach of an industrial scale valorization strategy for PG. Because the supply–demand cycle is price dependent, the availability of phosphorus in agriculture as a raw material has been a major concern for the usage of phosphate rock. Novel methods for substitute supplies of phosphorus in agricultural applications have been suggested. While HAp is a common ceramic material, its application as a substitute for phosphorus fertilizer is still in its infancy. PG has great potential as a raw material for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite and ammonium sulfate. Large-scale PG production in the phosphoric acid industry puts pressure on research to develop alternate methods for using PG aggregate resources in an economical and environmentally responsible way. The use of PG as a calcium and phosphorus precursor in the synthesis of HAp will result in an economical raw material and an effective waste management plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity load prediction plays a vital role in energy management. The necessity of combining scattered power generation channels of sustainable energy and other substitute resources into distribution grid networks is increasing because of the 4.1 percent rise in world electricity since 2021. The utilization of probability power generators and energy storage is maximized by short-term load prediction methods, which make it possible to anticipate potential energy usage. To facilitate the growth of energy systems in quite a sustainable way, urban energy planners utilize a range of methods and technological advances, including simulation, probability optimization, comprehensive improvement, and modelling techniques for predicting power requirements. Predicting energy consumption at granular time scales (e.g., hourly or sub-hourly intervals) is common practice for short-term energy load prediction. For similar time-series forecasting challenges, the authors have decided to use transfer learning (TL) with light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM).1 This model can benefit from models trained on larger data sets through TL, which might boost prediction accuracy. Energy prediction and effective resource utilization largely support the accurate transition of energy systems. In this paper, the authors propose a hybrid model for short-term energy load prediction. Based on TL to optimize LightGBM (OLGBM) for smart grids, The proposed model first applies data pre-processing using an abnormal supplement strategy with an immediate deviation selection technique. This phase eliminates the missing values and extracts the required features.The second phase uses a TL-OLGBM with hyperparameters. The TL method helps to learn the dynamic time scale and complex data patterns, and the hyperparameters are tuned via the Bayesian optimization technique, which addresses the challenge of short-term load forecasting (STLF) and increases forecasting accuracy. Finally, an optimized LightGBM model is applied, combining the time and energy features to predict effective energy forecasting. The proposed model gained a 2.834589 mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value and a 0.9706495 GINI index after execution on the prescribed data set. We compare the performance of the proposed model with other comparable models, and the simulation outcomes show that the model can generate the best results for MAPE, accuracy, and root-mean-square deviation (RMSE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In healthcare systems prioritizing care of older adults, resource limitations and escalating demand often impede access to outpatient specialized geriatric services. Objectives: This study, theoretically guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), aimed to explore barriers and facilitators in implementing a centralized "Geri-Hub." The Geri-Hub is a centralized intake system established within 2 hospital systems to coordinate outpatient and community-based services for older adults, aiming to connect them with the most appropriate care in a timely manner. Methods: Qualitative insights were gathered from healthcare professionals at 2 academic institutions in the process of consolidating services. Through open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews, we solicited feedback on referral management, waiting times, and overall work experiences. Results: Thirteen frequently referring providers and a cohort of 9 geriatricians, along with 4 administrators, contributed to the study. Geriatricians emphasized streamlined referrals, flexible scheduling for urgent cases, and a target wait time of 3 months. Administrators stressed standardized referral procedures, defined roles, and accessible referral information. Discussion: The findings underscored the need for straightforward referral processes, enhanced communication on referral statuses, and reduced wait times. Optimizing these processes could potentially mitigate resource utilization issues and improve patient outcomes in healthcare systems. This research highlights the critical role of timely access to geriatric services during transformative phases in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oleifera Abel, one of the most valuable woody oil plants, has been widely cultivated for extracting edible oil. The shell of C. oleifera is a by-product generated in the processing of edible oil extraction. However, there is still limited research on the maturity and high-value resource utilization of shell by-products. We found that the C. oleifera 'Huashuo' (HS) fruit shells contained a high content of catechins. Abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhanced the accumulation of catechins in C. oleifera fruit shells, providing a basis for production and application of the catechins in fruit shells of C. oleifera. We further found that 500 μM ABA and 900 μM MeJA significantly promoted the accumulation of catechin (C) and epicatechin (EC) in fruit shells. Following treatment with 900 μM MeJA, the expressions of CoPAL1, CoC4H1, CoC4H2, CoC4H3, Co4CL1, Co4CL2, CoF3′H1, CoLAR1, CoLAR2, CoLAR3, CoANR2, and CoANRL2 were significantly upregulated, while after 500 μM ABA treatment the expressions of CoPAL3, CoCHS1, CoCHS4, CoF3′H1, CoDFR, CoLAR1, CoLAR2, CoLAR3, CoANS1, CoANR1, and CoANR2 increased dramatically. These results indicate that appropriate concentrations of ABA and MeJA activate C and EC biosynthesis and promote their accumulation in fruit shells. Our results provide new ideas and guidance for promoting the resource utilization of C. oleifera fruit shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial amount of bauxite tailings (BTs) at abandoned mine sites have been stored in waste reservoirs for long periods, leading to significant land occupation and environmental degradation. Although many studies of the resource utilization of BTs were conducted to address this challenge, there is still a lack of efforts to systematically review the state of the art in BTs. In the present paper, a systematic literature review was carried out to summarize and analyze the properties, treatment, and resource utilization of BTs. Physical characteristics and the mineral and chemical composition of BTs are introduced. The efficacy of physical, chemical, and microbial treatment methods for BTs in terms of dehydration are outlined, and their respective benefits and limitations are discussed. Moreover, the extraction process of valuable elements (e.g., Si, Al, Fe, Li, Na, Nd, etc.) from BTs is examined, and the diverse applications of BTs in adsorption materials, ceramic materials, cementitious materials, lightweight aggregates, foamed mixture lightweight soil, among others, are studied. Finally, an efficient and smart treatment strategy for BTs was proposed. The findings of the present review provide a scientific basis and reference for future research focusing on the treatment and resource utilization of BTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroplating sludge (ES), the inevitable by‐product of electroplating wastewater treatment processes, has been conventionally managed via solidification landfilling or thermal processing; these methods may engender secondary environmental pollutants. This study proposes an innovative approach using iron ore sintering for effective ES treatment. The study reveals that incorporating 1.0% ES reduces the yield quality of the sintered ore, yet it remains within acceptable thresholds. It is noteworthy that when the addition of ES is 0.5%, it not only increases the sinter yield from 68.57% to 69.23% but also enhances the productivity from 1.19 to 1.32 t (m2 h)−1. Furthermore, the consumption of solid fuel decreases to 48.01 kg t−1. Additionally, the treatment method significantly reduced the emissions of CO and NOx in the sintering flue gas, with the average concentrations decreasing from 12681.32 to 9744.51 ppm for CO and from 244.81 to 161.11 ppm for NOx. This study investigates the migration and transformation mechanisms of nickel and chlorine elements in ES by conducting inductively coupled plasma analysis on the sintered raw materials and their products, as well as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis on the sinter ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllostachys glauca McClure leaves (PML), as economical natural product material, contain abundant phenols, particularly flavonoids, with significant biological activities that contribute to their widespread applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. To study the significant phenols in PML, an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction method with high efficiency and low toxicity was established for extracting the phenols from PML and the bamboo leaves of 17 other bamboo species. Using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method, the content of phenols in the leaves of the 18 bamboo species was determined. PML were found to contain neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isoorientin, and orientin at contents of 0.793 ± 00.17 mg/g, 0.491 ± 0.0081 mg/g, 0.485 ± 0.0043 mg/g, 0.465 ± 0.0021 mg/g, and 0.044 ± 0.0005 mg/g, respectively, with a total content of 2.278 mg/g. These contents were significantly higher than those found in the leaves of 17 other bamboo species. Additionally, the significant phenols, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid were found simultaneously in the leaves of 15 bamboo species, especially in PML. Therefore, PML can be viewed as the natural product material with considerable application values, owing to its abundant phenols, and can exhibit its importance in utilizing neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid as resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising production of industrial salted waste induces issues of disposal and pollution, calling for advanced methods to treat, purify and recycle the raw salt in the context of the circular economy. The main components of salted waste are organic and mineral fractions. Here we review the methods used to treat salted waste with focus on sources of salted waste, properties and removal of organic matter, and separation of minerals. Organic matter can be removed by pyrolysis carbonization, high-temperature melting, elution, and oxidation. Salt can be separated by evaporative crystallization, salt washing, and nanofiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large simulations with many independent sub-simulations are common in scientific computing. There are numerous challenges, however, associated with performing such simulations in shared computing environments. For example, sub-simulations may have wildly varying completion times or not complete at all, leading to unpredictable runtimes as well as unbalanced and inefficient use of human and computational resources. In this study, we use the actor model of concurrent computation to improve both the resource utilization and fault tolerance for large-scale scientific computing simulations. More specifically, we use actors in the SUMMA model to manage a large-scale hydrological simulation over the North American continent with over 500,000 independent sub-simulations. We find that the actors implementation outperforms a standard array job submission as well as the job submission tool GNU Parallel by better balancing the computational load across processors. The actors implementation also improves fault tolerance and can eliminate the user intervention required to detect and re-submit failed jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate severe physical resource consumption in cloud data centers, we propose an Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm-Based Virtual Machine Placement (ISSA-VMP) method. Incorporating Chebyshev chaotic mapping and Levy flight disturbance enhances resource allocation diversity in the search space. The mapping encoding scheme transforms virtual machine placement solutions into continuous positional information. ISSA-VMP establishes a cloud data center resource consumption model to maximize physical host resource utilization efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate the excellent performance of ISSA-VMP in virtual machine migration and physical resource utilization, significantly reducing task completion time. Compared to the best performing algorithm, the execution rate has increased by 5.57–18.11%. ISSA-VMP achieves high and stable physical resource utilization rates, ensuring efficient utilization, with a stable Service Level Agreement (SLA) violation rate. In summary, ISSA-VMP is a promising, efficient solution for optimizing resource allocation in cloud data centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of organic solid waste has recently exacerbated environmental pollution problems, and its improper treatment has led to the loss of a large number of biomass resources. Here, we expound the advantages of microbial agents composting compared with conventional organic solid waste treatment technology, and review the important role of microbial agents composting in organic solid waste composting from the aspects of screening and identification, optimization of conditions, mechanism of action, combination with other technologies and ultra‐high‐temperature and ultra‐low‐temperature microbial composting. We discuss the value of microorganisms with different growth conditions in organic solid waste composting, and put forward a seasonal multi‐temperature composite microbial composting technology. Provide new ideas for the all‐round treatment of microbial agents in organic solid waste in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We assessed clinical outcomes of patients undergoing open hernia repair using STRATAFIX™ Symmetric, a barbed triclosan-coated suture (TCS; Ethicon), versus conventional polydioxanone suture (PDS) for abdominal wall closure. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study identified patients undergoing hernia repair. The site used PDS from 2013 to 2016 and switched exclusively to barbed TCS in 2017. Outcomes were assessed at 30, 60, and 90 days. Multivariate regression analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results: Of 821 hernia repairs, 446 used barbed TCS and 375 used conventional PDS. Surgical site infections (SSIs) were significantly less frequent with barbed TCS (60 days, 5.9% vs. 11.4%; P = 0.0083; 90 days, 5.9% vs. 11.7%; P = 0.006) and this remained consistent after multivariate adjustment (60 days, OR [95% CI]: 0.5 [0.3–0.9]; 90 days, 0.5 [0.3–0.9]). Among patients with SSI, deep SSIs were less frequent with barbed TCS (60 days, 9.1% vs. 35.7%; P = 0.022; 90 days, 9.1% vs. 34.9%; P = 0.0252). Barbed TCS significantly reduced the risk of perioperative complications (HR [95% CI]: 0.5[0.3–0.8]; P = 0.0058). Hospital length of stay was 2.5 days shorter with barbed TCS (mean [95% CI]: 5.7[4.9–6.6] vs. 8.2[7.3–9.1] days; P < 0.0001). No differences in reoperation rate over time were observed by type of suture (HR[95% CI]:1.3 [0.5–3.4]; P = 0.4793). Conclusions: This study showed that patients who underwent open hernia repair appeared to recover equally well regardless of the suture type. In addition, the use of barbed TCS was associated with significantly reduced risk of perioperative complications and hospital length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular surgeons are often called upon to provide emergent surgical assistance to other specialties for iatrogenic complications, both intraoperatively and in the inpatient setting. The management of iatrogenic vascular injury remains a critical role of the vascular surgeon, especially in the context of the increasing adoption of percutaneous procedures by other specialties. This study aims to characterize consultation timing, management, and outcomes for iatrogenic vascular injuries. This study identified patients for whom vascular surgery was consulted for iatrogenic vascular complications from February 1, 2022, to May 12, 2023. Patient information, including demographic information, injury details, and details of any operative intervention, was retrospectively collected from February 1, 2022, to October 13, 2022, and prospectively collected for the remainder of the study period. Analyses were performed with R (version 2022.02.03). There were 87 patients with consultations related to iatrogenic vascular injury. Of these, 42 (46%) were female and the mean age was 59 years (±18 years). The most common consulting services were cardiology (32%), cardiothoracic surgery (26%), general surgery (8%), and neurointerventional radiology (10%). Reasons for consultation included hemorrhage (36%), limb ischemia (36%), and treatment of pseudoaneurysm (23%). A total of 24% of consults were intraoperative, 20% of consults related to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation, and 16% of consults related to ventricular assist devices including left ventricular assist device and intra-aortic balloon pump. The majority of these consult requests (60%) occurred during evening and night hours (5 PM to 7 AM). Emergent intervention was required in 62% of cases and consisted of primary open surgical repair of arterial injury (54%), endovascular intervention (21%), and open thromboembolectomy (15%). Overall, in-hospital mortality for the patient cohort was 20% and the reintervention rate was 23%, reflecting the underlying complexity of the illness and nature of the vascular injury in this patient group. Vascular surgeons play an essential role in managing emergent life-threatening hemorrhagic and ischemic iatrogenic vascular complications in the hospitalized setting. The complications require immediate bedside or intraoperative consult and often emergent open surgical or endovascular intervention. Furthermore, many of these require urgent management in the evening or overnight hours, and therefore the high frequency of these events represents a potential significant resource utilization and workforce issue to the vascular surgery workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology 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.)

Large quantities of battery systems will be discarded from electric vehicles in the future. Non-destructive separation of used electric vehicle (EV) traction batteries enables a second life of battery components, extraction of high value secondary materials, and reduces the environmental footprint of recycling and separation processes. In this study, the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the second life application of spent EV batteries are identified. Three battery packs are analyzed in terms of the joining techniques used—and possible separation techniques—considering only direct recycling methods. The components that can be recovered from these batteries are evaluated against the KPIs. This study shows that all the batteries analyzed allow a second life in stationary and semi-stationary electrical storage systems and marine applications when used at the pack and module levels. Two packs can be reused in electric vehicles such as forklifts. However, the feasibility of re-use in micro-mobility and consumer electronics is very limited. This study shows that technically feasible separation methods are dictated and constrained by the joining techniques used. As welding and adhesive bonding pose challenges to separation processes, future efforts should prioritize 'design for disassembly' to ensure sustainable battery life cycle management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2010 to 2020, the main counties (cities and districts) with fruit forest pruning and fruit cultivation (citrus, pomegranate, apple, pear and grapes) were studied as the research objects, based on the fruit forest pruning coefficient and the discount coal coefficient, the pruning resources of fruit forests in Yunnan Province were estimated, the biomass fuel potential was estimated, and the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that from 2010 to 2020, the total amount of pruning resources in fruit forests in Yunnan Province showed an upward trend, and the average annual pruning amount of shoots was 1,522,700 tons. The resources of fruit forest pruning were significantly different between different regions. In 2020, the resources of fruit forest pruning in Yunnan Province were 2,617,500 tons, including 6 counties with more than 100,000 tons, 8 counties with 50,000 tons to 100,000 tons, and 31 counties with less than 50,000 tons. The annual average amount of shoots converted into pellet fuel into standard coal was 918,000 tons, and the average annual amount of standard coal converted into natural gas and power generation was 690 million m³ and 7 472 million kWh, respectively, and the potential annual value generated was 4 184 million yuan. Yunnan Province has great potential for energy conversion of fruit forest pruning branches, excellent resource endowment conditions for the development of biomass fuel, and has the resource base for the industrialization of biomass pellet fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural waste resource utilization is to transform a large amount of agricultural waste into available resources and renewable resources. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of northeast agricultural and aquaculture production, pollution of agricultural environment caused by a large amount of agricultural waste and livestock manure is becoming increasingly prominent, so agricultural waste resource utilization is an important link of environmental protection and agricultural development, fully exploring the utilization value of agricultural waste resources is of great significance to the cold region agricultural sustainable development. This paper expounds the present situation and existing problems of agricultural waste resource utilization in cold region, including the main source of agricultural waste, characteristics, hazards and resource utilization way, for the influencing factors of resource utilization and existing problems, put forward reasonable suggestions and prospects, aims to provide theoretical reference basis for protecting the agricultural ecological environment, strengthening agricultural waste resource utilization and planning, to provide a more comprehensive basic information for agricultural waste resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the issue that the Bayer process is not suitable for low-grade bauxite, carbochlorination was proposed to recover aluminum and silicon from low-grade bauxite. This study focused on the behavior of aluminum and silicon during the carbochlorination process of low-grade bauxite. The impact of various process parameters on the chlorination efficiency was investigated, and the chlorination mechanism and kinetics of aluminum and silicon chlorination in bauxite were analyzed and discussed. Under optimal experimental conditions, the chlorination efficiency of Al2O3 and SiO2 reached 94.93% and 86.32%, respectively. The carbochlorination of aluminum and silicon in bauxite adhered to a shrinking, unreacted core model governed by gas diffusion within the product layer. This process can be bifurcated into two stages. Additionally, calculations were conducted to determine the apparent activation energy and reaction order of the chlorination processes involving Al2O3 and SiO2. Examining the chlorination mechanism revealed that the bauxite carbochlorination encompasses transformations among various minerals. Notably, the aluminum component prefers to participate in the carbothermal chlorination reaction over silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The routine dredging of waterways produces huge volumes of sediments. Handling contaminated dredged sediments poses significant and diverse challenges around the world. In recent years, novel and sustainable ex situ remediation technologies for contaminated sediments have been developed and applied. This review article focuses on cement-based binders in stabilizing contaminants through the stabilization/solidification (S/S) technique and the utilization of contaminated sediments as a resource. Through S/S techniques, heavy metals can be solidified and stabilized in dense and durable solid matrices, reducing their permeability and restricting their release into the environment. Industrial by-products like red mud (RM), soda residue (SR), pulverized fly ash (PFA), and alkaline granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) can immobilize heavy metal ions such as lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, and chromium by precipitation. However, in a strong alkali environment, certain heavy metal ions might dissolve again. To address this, immobilization in low pH media can be achieved using materials like GGBS, metakaolin (MK), and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA). Additionally, heavy metals can be also immobilized through the formation of silicate gels and ettringites during pozzolanic reactions by mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchanges, and encapsulation. It is foreseeable that, in the future, the scientific community will increasingly turn towards multidisciplinary studies on novel materials, also after an evaluation of the effects on long-term heavy metal stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing provide services dynamically according to the contract between service providers and users. However, Inappropriateness of scheduling task on VMs can lead huge resource waste and load unbalance, which becomes a seriously challenging problem. Current Swarm intelligence algorithms like genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) are combination of random initialization and local search algorithm. It avoids inconsistent results for different problem instances. However, existing Swarm intelligence works sometimes search the optima without analysing task scheduling situations comprehensively, global search efficiency is low and convergence is too early. In this paper, we propose SNSK‐IPSO algorithm, which develops as a two‐phases algorithm: enumerating all distributed solutions between VMs and tasks, finding the optimal solution through IPSO. It not only minimizes the execution time, but also improves resource utilization and load balance. Several experiments demonstrate that our novel algorithm outperforms others in terms of achieving load balance, higher resource utilization and lower execution times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannery meat residue solid waste is a kind of protein-rich waste, which is easy to corrupt and stink and pollute the environment for a long time. Therefore, how to develop its value is a problem that tannery enterprises pay more attention to. In this study, the solid waste of tannery meat residue was pre‐ pared into meat residue hydrolysate by biological enzyme method. The preparation process of meat resi‐ due hydrolysate dry powder was determined by experiments. The inlet temperature was set at 140 ℃ and the flow rate was 17 r/min. The meat residue hydrolysate dry powder can obtain the maximum yield. This dry powder was used as a nitrogen source for the fermentation production of JW-3 dehairing enzyme. On the basis of single factor experiment, the response surface analysis method was used to screen out the best addition ratio of dry powder of meat residue hydrolysate and optimize the culture medium. The re‐ sults showed that the optimal medium for the enzyme production of the genetically engineered strain WB800N/pHT43-npr was as follows: dextrin 30 g/L, dry powder of meat residue hydrolysate 20 g/L, MnSO4 26 mg/L, CaCl2 0.05 g/L. The protease fermentation activity was 1 203.5 U/mL, which was about 10% higher than that of the basic fermentation medium. This opens up a new way for the resource utiliza‐ tion of tannery meat residue solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The invasive woodwasp Sirex noctilio occasionally shares hosts with the native S. nitobei and other colonizers. The coexistence of these species may significantly impact individual species. We compared coexistence patterns among several colonizers at both stand and tree scales. Spatial scales revealed negative associations (e.g., Asemum striatum, Phaenops sp.) and neutral ones (Ips acuminatus) between woodwasps and other co-colonizing insects. A positive correlation was found between the frequency of woodwasp attacks and the density of trees damaged by Sirex in the current and previous years. At the tree scale, S. noctilio is more abundant in sections where it occurs alone than in sections where it co-occurs with S. nitobei. The distribution and body size of S. noctilio within the tree are unaffected by the presence of S. nitobei. However, S. nitobei was more prevalent in bottom sections when S. noctilio was present and larger in bottom sections where it occurred alone. This result can be attributed to early S. noctilio attacks enhancing the micro-environment of S. nitobei, which provides nutrients for larval development. Sirex noctilio, a European woodwasp, occasionally shares resources with the native S. nitobei and other colonizers in northeast China. The impact of its coexistence on individual species remains unclear. Random sampling was conducted to assess the patterns and extent of insect co-colonization across various spatial scales. Additionally, we analyzed wood sections to determine the density, adult size, and distribution of the two Sirex species. Spatial scales revealed negative associations (Asemum striatum and Phaenops sp.) and neutral ones (Ips acuminatus) between woodwasps and other co-colonizers. Clustering of woodwasps and Phaenops sp. occurred at a small scale (0–7.3 m). Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between the chance of woodwasp attacks and past attacks on the same host, with little impact from other colonization factors. The distribution and body size of S. noctilio within the tree appeared unaffected by S. nitobei's presence. In the presence of S. noctilio, S. nitobei tended to lay eggs in damaged sections. At the stand level, the overall impact of S. noctilio on S. nitobei population density is likely positive because S. nitobei prefer weaker trees, a preference potentially influenced by initial attacks from S. noctilio on healthier hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the drastic development of Internet of things, the number of connected mobile users (MUs) is increasing at an unprecedented speed. The increasing popularity of MUs has triggered more and more new mobile applications. However, these applications are sensitive to latency, which inevitably increases pressure on MUs. Fortunately, computation offloading of mobile edge computing is becoming a promising technology that can improve quality of service for MUs. However, it becomes much difficult when there are multiple edge servers (ESs) near to the MU, even to the multiple MUs. On the other hand, as the resources of ESs are heterogeneous and finite, and thus it is challenge to design effective offloading strategies for multiple MUs. To tackle the above challenges, we firstly establish a multi-objective optimization model concerning time consumption and energy consumption of MUs, and resource utilization of ESs. Moreover, we devise an end-edge-cloud collaborative computing offloading method based on improved Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm 2 for addressing this mode. Finally, compared to benchmark methods, numerous experiments have proved that our proposed method is effective and efficient and can be widely used for the scenario of multiple MUs and multiple heterogeneous ESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary data are vital for understanding species' resource requirements and ecological roles and supporting conservation efforts. The Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni, is a vulnerable and endemic species in the Amazon. Due to their rarity, elusive nature, complex forest canopy habitat, and occurrence in remote areas, we minimally know their dietary habits. To address this gap, we analysed photographs of Blue‐headed Macaws posted on wildlife‐focused social media platforms, specifically targeting images that capture foraging behaviour on plants. Photographs depicting the same foraging were included only once, and those where the plants were not identified were discarded. By doing so, we identified 36 distinct foraging events (or photos), primarily taken between July and October, concentrated in specific locations in Peru and Brazil, a potential seasonality in foraging. We documented 27 food plant species and items such as nectar (n = 9 photos), pulp (8), seeds (7), buds, bark (5 each), aril, and leaves (n = 1 photo each). Notably, floral resources, including nectar, are a potentially important food in the driest months. Using Levin's Index (Ba), we identified a broad dietary niche, indicating a generalist feeding strategy with a wide variety of plant species (Ba = 0.69) and food items (Ba = 0.88). Additionally, the study revealed interactions such as florivory, seed predation, bark consumption, and potential mutualistic roles like pollination and seed dispersal. Our photo‐centric approach here expanded the known dietary spectrum of the Blue‐headed Macaw from four to 31 plant species, offering new insights for conservation strategies. We recommend the preservation of identified food plants and suggest using these data to inform habitat restoration efforts that support the macaws' dietary needs and ecological functions. Future research should focus on continuous monitoring of these food plants to deepen our understanding of seasonal foraging trends and ecological interactions and refine conservation approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (VUGIB and NVUGIB, respectively) require prompt intervention. Existing studies offer limited insight into the impact of interhospital transfers on patients with VUGIB and NVUGIB. We conducted a retrospective study using the US National Inpatient Sample database from 2017 to 2020. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality, incidence of complications, procedural performance, and resource utilization. A total of 28,275 VUGIB and 781,370 NVUGIB adult patients were included. Transferred VUGIB and NVUGIB patients, when compared to nontransferred ones, demonstrated higher inpatient mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.49 and 1.86, P < 0.05). Patients with VUGIB and NVUGIB had a higher likelihood of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (AOR 3.79 and 1.76, respectively, P = 0.01), vasopressor requirement (AOR 2.13 and 2.37, respectively, P < 0.01), need for mechanical ventilation (AOR 1.73 and 2.02, respectively, P < 0.01), and intensive care unit admission (AOR 1.76 and 2.01, respectively, P < 0.01). Compared to their nontransferred counterparts, transferred VUGIB patients had a higher rate of undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (AOR 3.26, 95% CI 1.92–5.54, P < 0.01), while transferred NVUGIB patients had a higher rate of interventional radiology-guided embolization (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.73–2.34, P < 0.01) and endoscopic hemostasis (AOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05–1.15, P < 0.01). Interhospital transfer is associated with worse clinical outcomes and higher resource utilization for VUGIB and NVUGIB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher 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 China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher 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 Nonferrous Metals (Mineral Processing Section) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group 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 Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing 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.)

In this paper, Bayer red mud (RM) and lotus leaf powder (LL) were used as the main materials, and KH2PO4 was added to modify the material. Under the condition of high-temperature carbonization, RMLL was prepared and phosphate modified red mud matrix composite (PRMLL) was prepared based on KH2PO4 modification, which can effectively remove Pb2+ from water. The optimum preparation and application conditions were determined through orthogonal experiment: dosage 0.1g, ratio 1:1, and temperature 600 °C. The effects of pH, dosage, and initial concentration on the adsorption of Pb2+ were studied. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models were fitted to the experimental data. It was found that RMLL and PRMLL were more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and chemisorption. Langmuir, Freundlich, Timkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isothermal adsorption models were used to fit the experimental data. It was found that RMLL and PRMLL were more consistent with Langmuir model. In addition, the maximum adsorption capacity of RMLL and PRMLL was 188.1 mg/g and 213.4 mg/g, respectively. It is larger than the adsorption capacity of their monomers. Therefore, the use of RMLL and PRMLL as the removal of Pb2+ from water is a potential application material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile edge computing (MEC) has emerged as a promising technology that can revolutionize the future of mobile networks. MEC brings compute and storage capabilities to the edge of the network closer to end-users. This enables faster data processing and improved user experience by reducing latency. MEC has the potential to decrease the burden on the core network by transferring computational and storage responsibilities to the edge, thereby reducing overall network congestion. Load balancing is critical for effectively utilizing the resources of the MEC. This ensures that the workload is distributed uniformly across all of the available resources. Load balancing is a complex task and there are various algorithms that can be used to achieve it, such as round-robin, least connection, and IP hash. To differentiate between heavily loaded and lightly loaded servers, current load balancing methods use an average response time to gauge the load on the edge server. Nevertheless, this approach has lower precision and may result in an unequal distribution of the workload. Our study introduces a dynamic threshold calculation technique that relies on a response-time threshold of the edge servers using K-means clustering. K-means based proposed algorithm classifies the servers in two sets (here K = 2), i.e., overloaded and lightly loaded edge servers. Consequently, workload is migrated from overloaded to lightly loaded servers to evenly distribute the workload. Experimental results show that the proposed technique reduces latency and improves resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society 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.)

Cloud computing is considered suitable for organizations thanks to its flexibility and the provision of digital services via the Internet. The cloud provides nearly limitless computing resources on demand without any upfront costs or long-term contracts, enabling organizations to meet their computing needs more economically. Furthermore, cloud computing provides higher security, scalability, and reliability levels than traditional computing solutions. The efficiency of the platform affects factors such as Quality of Service (QoS), congestion, lifetime, energy consumption, dependability, and scalability. Load balancing refers to managing traffic flow to spread it across several channels. Asymmetric network traffic results in increased traffic processing, more congestion on specific routes, and fewer packets delivered. The paper focuses on analyzing the use of the meta-optimization algorithm based on the principles of natural selection to solve the imbalance of loads in cloud systems. To sum up, it offers a detailed literature review on the essential meta-heuristic algorithms for load balancing in cloud computing. The study also assesses and analyses meta-heuristic algorithm performance in load balancing, as revealed by past studies, experiments, and case studies. Key performance indicators encompass response time, throughput, resource utilization, and scalability, and they are used to assess how these algorithms impact load balance efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the promotion of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, the social’s concern and demand for the treatment of coal gasification slag is becoming more and more urgent. Based on previous research, this paper introduces the main sources and discharge methods of coal gasification slag, and compares the properties and characteristics of coarse and fine slag in terms of morphology, particle size composition, mineral phase, chemical composition, etc, which providing a theoretical basis for the realization of its “reduction, resourcefulness and harmlessness” utilization. According to the obvious differences in properties between coarse slag and fine slag in entrained-flow gasification, this paper explores the different resource treatment methods both of them, and analyzes the limitations of the current utilization methods. Coarse slag has excellent hydration activity and volcanic ash activity, and is widely used in mine backfilling, roadbed filling, cement and concrete aggregate, ceramic materials, wall materials and other low-value utilization fields, but there are problems such as the risk of heavy metal leaching and low economic benefits. Fine slag contains rich carbon residue, and gravity separation and flotation are mainly used for combustible recovery and ash separation. However, the high fine-grained content reduces the precision of gravity separation, and the complex carbon-ash combination morphology increases the difficulty of flotation recovery. At the same time, the pore structure of fine slag is developed, with a specific surface area as high as 258.29 m2/g and certain adsorption capacity. Fine slag has great application potential in fields such as soil improvement, catalyst carrier, chemical raw materials, ceramic materials, adsorption materials, etc. But the complex high-value treatment process and high cost make industrial applications more difficult. In order to address these problems, it is necessary to explore the way of combing large-scale elimination with high-value utilization based on the physical and chemical properties of coal gasification slag, and realize the classified and graded resource utilization of coal gasification slag. It is necessary to explore the treatment method of on-site solution of coal gasification slag, combined with field production practice, which benefits to reduce the transportation cost. As well as the induction of physical and chemical properties to improve the treatment in the process of its generation.

A substantial reduction in groundwater level, exacerbated by coal mining activities, is intensifying water scarcity in western China’s ecologically fragile coal mining areas. China’s national strategic goal of achieving a carbon peak and carbon neutrality has made eco-friendly mining that prioritizes the protection and efficient use of water resources essential. Based on the resource characteristics of mine water and heat hazards, an intensive coal–water–thermal collaborative co-mining paradigm for the duration of the mining process is proposed. An integrated system for the production, supply, and storage of mining companion resources is achieved through technologies such as roof water inrush prevention and control, hydrothermal quality improvement, and deep-injection geological storage. An active preventive and control system achieved by adjusting the mining technology and a passive system centered on multi-objective drainage and grouting treatment are suggested, in accordance with the original geological characteristics and dynamic process of water inrush. By implementing advanced multi-objective drainage, specifically designed to address the “skylight-type” water inrush mode in the Yulin mining area of Shaanxi Province, a substantial reduction of 50% in water drillings and inflow was achieved, leading to stabilized water conditions that effectively ensure subsequent safe coal mining. An integrated-energy complementary model that incorporates the clean production concept of heat utilization is also proposed. The findings indicate a potential saving of 8419 t of standard coal by using water and air heat as an alternative heating source for the Xiaojihan coalmine, resulting in an impressive energy conservation of 50.2% and a notable 24.2% reduction in carbon emissions. The ultra-deep sustained water injection of 100 m3·h−1 in a single well would not rupture the formation or cause water leakage, and 7.87 × 105 t of mine water could be effectively stored in the Liujiagou Formation, presenting a viable method for mine–water management in the Ordos Basin and providing insights for green and low-carbon mining.

High-silicon iron ore tailings, typically regarded as a byproduct of iron ore processing, are utilized innovatively in this study for the extraction of 99.99% high-purity quartz (HPQ). An innovative process consisting of Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS) with refined two-stage mixed acid leaching was developed. Hazardous impurities, such as heavy metals, were significantly reduced by this approach, achieving a notable SiO2 purity of 99.99%. Significant outcomes include achieving a SiO2 purity of 99.99%, a total recovery rate of 38.04% from raw materials, and significant removal efficiencies for critical contaminants such as Fe (90.45%), Al (78.89%), and Ca (68.15%) after the two-stage acid treatment. Analytical techniques like SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry), and FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) were utilized to monitor the migration of these impurities throughout the purification process, ensuring a safe and controlled treatment of the tailings. A viable method for HPQ extraction has been demonstrated and a model for sustainable mining waste management practices has been established through this research.