Artiles
Open Access
Article
06 August 2026Comprehensive Evaluation of an Intelligent Feeding Robot for the Elderly: Effectiveness, Safety, and Human-Robot Interaction
To address the growing demand for assisted feeding in aging societies, our team developed an intelligent feeding robot named “Xiao Xi”. This robot integrates multimodal interaction (voice control, handheld button, foot pedal, and mechanical button), deep learning-based food recognition and mouth positioning, and a novel spoon-chopstick integrated mechanism capable of handling both solid and semi-solid foods. To systematically evaluate its clinical value, we enrolled 40 healthy elderly participants in a randomized crossover trial, comparing a robot-assisted feeding session (RFS) with a human-assisted feeding session (HFS). Outcome measures included food intake percentage, successful feeding percentage, average feeding duration, QUEST 2.0 satisfaction score, and safety outcomes. RFS showed a lower food intake percentage than HFS (adjusted mean difference = −33.90%, 95% CI: −35.57 to −32.23, p < 0.001) and required a longer average feeding duration (adjusted mean difference = 2.78 s, 95% CI: 2.35 to 3.21, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the successful feeding percentage or QUEST 2.0 satisfaction score. No adverse events occurred during either feeding condition. These findings suggest that “Xiao Xi” is safe and acceptable for healthy elderly users, but its feeding efficiency remains lower than HFS. Further optimization and validation in elderly individuals with real feeding assistance needs are required.
Open Access
Article
06 August 2026An Anti-Aging Tissue-Made Cosme-Nutraceutical Product: Effectiveness and Safety by an In Vitro and In Vivo Study
The evolution of the skin Industry, together with the consumer’s dream to maintain a younger appearance for living longer, has pushed the industry to formulate and distribute science-oriented cosmetics and diet supplements. Consequently, the worldwide production and selling of cosmeceuticals (specialized Cosmetics) and nutraceuticals (specialized diet supplements) have been notably increased for the consumer request of the Beauty from Within also. Thus the increased studies, formulations, and consumer requests of products more effective and safe. At this purpose the paper reports some data of a new pro-aging formulation controlled in vitro by the use of aged keratinocytes and fibroblasts and in vivo by controlling the skin of 30 selected women aged between 58 and 67 years. The studies have involved the use of an innovative anti-aging/pro-aging cosmeceutical-formulation con eyes by a specialized tissue (carrier-tissue). This tissue, made by selected active ingredients embedded into a biodegradable tissue-vehicle (activated-tissue), has been compared to the same actives embedded into a normal emulsion. The active ingredients used as anti-aging skin-repairing agents have been Nicotinamide, Allantoin, and sodium ascorbyl phosphate enriched by the fish-Collagen-peptides, considered an ingredient useful to increase the product’s penetrability through the skin’s Stratum Corneum when applied on its surface. On the other hand, both the tissues might be used as nutraceuticals also, due to their water-solubility, effectiveness, and safety. The selected and positive results, obtained by both the in vitro by keratinocytes/fibroblasts cultures and in vivo by engineering methods, will be reported and discussed, trying to show the effectiveness and safety of the realized tissues and the innovative cosme-nutraceutical’formulation.
Open Access
Article
06 August 2026Age-Related Utility of Dental Records in Human Identification
Forensic odontology can be considered a very reliable tool for human identification, especially when the use of fingerprints and DNA analysis is not feasible. Forensic odontology achieves this reliability through the comparison between antemortem dental records and postmortem dental findings. Antemortem dental records can include radiographs, charts, photographs, and three-dimensional images of the deceased, while postmortem records include photographs, radiographs, and all the records of dental findings obtained from the deceased. However, the conclusion for identification results from the comparison of unique features present in the antemortem and postmortem records. Features that can offer the best results for comparison include dental treatments such as fillings, crowns, root canal treatment, dental implants, and prostheses. Therefore, dental treatment can be considered the gold standard, as no two people typically can have the same dental work. In the absence of dental work, the unique features of dentition, maxillofacial morphological structures, along with congenital anomalies, can offer the best results for identification. The present research aims to assess the usefulness of dental information sources for human identification, focusing on different age groups. This research article is a retrospective analysis of 81 forensic odontology cases conducted at the Department of Applied Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst University. The cases were divided into three different age groups: juvenile, adult, and elderly. Each case was analyzed with respect to the types of dental information used for human identification, such as restorations, prostheses, surgical devices, and anatomy. The results showed that, for human identification, each of the three age groups has different challenges and benefits. In the juvenile group, individuals lacked dental treatment, requiring the use of anatomy for human identification. In the adult group, individuals showed unique restoration procedures that served as effective markers for human identification. In the elderly, the presence of dentures and the use of prosthetics made the label on the dentures and the fit of the bone critical for human identification. This research article confirms the importance of the role of forensic odontology in human identification.
Open Access
Article
06 August 2026Enhancement on Properties of MgO-MgAlON Composite Refractories by Introducing Solid Waste Containing BN and AlN
Driven by the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the resource utilization of solid waste has attracted considerable attention due to its scientific importance and environmental benefits. For this purpose, MgO-MgAlON-BN refractories with enhanced thermal shock and slag resistance were designed and successfully fabricated by introducing BN solid waste as an additive. The results indicate that the sample containing BN additives exhibits superior overall performance compared with those without additives. At a BN content of 3.26 wt.%, the cold compressive strength increases by 21.20%, and the contact angle at 1723 K increases by 50.01%. Further analysis reveals that the improved wetting behavior is mainly attributed to the introduction of BN additives, which promote the formation of numerous micro-convex structures. These structural characteristics restrict slag infiltration and inhibit slag penetration into the refractory matrix, thereby enhancing slag resistance. Consequently, a cost-effective and feasible reinforcement strategy for MgO-MgAlON-BN refractories is proposed, providing a promising pathway for the high-value utilization of solid waste resources.
Open Access
Article
05 August 2026The Euphrates River Flooding Event of May–June 2026: Hydrological Analysis, Transboundary Water Management, and Institutional Dimensions
In late May 2026, the Euphrates River experienced a significant flooding event, with water levels rising approximately four meters in some locations. Water flows increased from normal levels of approximately 300–500 m3/s to peak releases of 1800 m3/s. The flood resulted from a confluence of extreme meteorological conditions—record rainfall across Syria and Türkiye, combined with rapid snowmelt in the Turkish highlands—and dam operations, including the first opening of the Atatürk Dam spillway gates in seven years and the first opening of the Euphrates Dam floodgates in approximately four decades. While the 2026 event was moderate by historical standards (smaller than the 1969 flood and the 1988 flood of 2760 m3/s at Husaybah), the opening of the Euphrates Dam floodgates after approximately 40 years was unprecedented in the post-dam era. This paper synthesizes available data on the event’s causes, impacts, and implications for transboundary water management, drawing on official statements from Syrian, Turkish, and Iraqi authorities as well as hydrological literature and multiple language sources. The analysis places the 2026 event within the broader context of the Euphrates River’s hydrological history, examining both historical flooding events and the multi-decadal drought patterns that have characterized the basin over the past century. The paper also identifies institutional instability in Syria’s water sector following the 2024 political transition as a potential contributing factor deserving investigation, while acknowledging that direct causal evidence remains limited. Based on these findings, the paper recommends improved transboundary coordination, infrastructure upgrades, and—subject to further investigation of the institutional hypothesis—reconstitution of Syria’s water management technical capacity to ensure future hydrological resilience.
Open Access
Article
04 August 2026Determining Maximum Allowable Concentrations of Selenium and Iron Nanoparticles in Hediste diversicolor as Sturgeon Live Feed
This study aimed to determine the acute dietary toxicity and Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) of selenium (Se-NPs) and iron (Fe-NPs) nanoparticles for the ragworm (Hediste diversicolor). This worm is a critical live feed source in sturgeon aquaculture, directly influencing the health and growth of larvae and juveniles. However, the safe dietary levels of these nanoparticles for the ragworm itself, and consequently the risk of trophic transfer to sturgeon, remain unknown. Determining safe dietary levels of nanoparticles in this organism is therefore essential for ensuring the safety of the entire sturgeon feed chain. Worms were exposed to six concentrations (0, 100 μg/kg, 1, 10, 100 mg/kg, and 1 g/kg diet) of each nanoparticle for 96 h in three replicates. Throughout the experiment, aeration was provided, and worm behavior was monitored. Cumulative mortality was recorded at 24, 48, 72, and 96-h intervals. Data were recorded in Microsoft Office Excel 2019, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (Version 26). Data were analyzed by Probit analysis with a 95% confidence level. The LC10, LC50, and LC90 values for Se-NPs were calculated to be 291.2, 989.8, and 1690 mg/kg, respectively. For Fe-NPs, these values were 924.3, 3300, and 5700 mg/kg, respectively. Using a standard Safety Factor (SF) of 10, the calculated MAC are 98.98 mg/kg for Se-NPs and 330.0 mg/kg for Fe-NPs. This study establishes critical toxicity thresholds for Se-NPs and Fe-NPs in ragworm. The findings provide essential data for developing safe feeding protocols in sturgeon aquaculture, helping to prevent potential nanoparticle toxicity transfer through contaminated live feed and ensuring sustainable sturgeon production.
Open Access
Article
04 August 2026Contrasting Wave Power Intensity and Resource Quality in the Northwest Pacific: Variability, Availability, and Extreme Load Risk
Using 45 years of six-hourly ERA5 reanalysis data from 1979 to 2023, this study evaluates the spatial mismatch between theoretical wave-power intensity and practical resource quality across the Northwest Pacific. Resource quality is characterized by temporal variability, threshold-based availability, resource persistence, extreme-event exposure, and wind-sea/swell composition. The mid- to high-latitude storm belt and the Kuroshio Extension exhibit the highest mean and upper-tail wave power, but their resources are strongly concentrated in winter, with monthly coefficients of variation of approximately 0.5–0.7, seasonal variability indices commonly exceeding 0.7, and elevated extreme-event exposure. By contrast, subtropical and western-boundary transition regions generally have lower mean wave power but steadier availability and lower relative risk. Stable and low-risk regions are also more swell dominated, whereas high-resource and high-risk conditions are associated with larger wind-sea contributions. These results indicate that variability and risk can offset the benefits of high mean wave power and may increase operational costs. Maximum wave power, therefore, does not necessarily imply the highest resource quality, and the proposed framework provides a basis for basin-scale wave-energy pre-screening.
Open Access
Review
04 August 2026Groundwater Systems, Aquifer Characterization, and Sustainability Challenges in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Hydrogeological and Geophysical Investigations (2000–2026)
Groundwater represents one of the most important freshwater resources in Nigeria and serves as a major source of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities. This scoping review synthesizes existing knowledge on groundwater systems, aquifer characterization, hydrogeophysical investigations, groundwater quality, and sustainability challenges across different hydrogeological environments in Nigeria. The review adopted the PRISMA-ScR framework and analyzed peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2026, retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink databases. The findings revealed substantial hydrogeological variability associated with the Basement Complex terrains, sedimentary basins, Coastal Plain Sands, and alluvial aquifer systems. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), hydrochemical analysis, GIS integration, and remote sensing emerged as the dominant groundwater investigation techniques. The review further identified increasing groundwater quality deterioration resulting from salinity intrusion, industrial pollution, oil spill contamination, excessive groundwater abstraction, and climate variability. Coastal aquifers within the Niger Delta, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom regions were found to be particularly vulnerable to seawater intrusion and hydrocarbon contamination. Despite increasing groundwater studies, major gaps remain in long-term monitoring, integrated hydrogeophysical investigations, and national groundwater database development. The study emphasizes the need for integrated groundwater management, sustainable policy frameworks, climate-resilient groundwater assessment approaches, and interdisciplinary research strategies to support long-term groundwater sustainability and water security in Nigeria.
Open Access
Review
03 August 2026Life by Assembly Line1: A Century-Long Quest to Build Life—And Define It
Synthetic biology increasingly pursues the construction of engineered biological systems, yet the field lacks operational categories for interpreting claims of “life creation”. Rather than asking whether life has already been created in the laboratory, this article argues that synthetic biology requires a pragmatic framework that distinguishes modification, reconstruction, assembly, and autonomous synthesis of biological systems. Building on a historical analysis of recurring life-creation claims throughout twentieth-century biology, we develop a taxonomy that situates contemporary synthetic biology and xenobiology along a continuum of increasing engineering depth. Current achievements—including genome rewriting, orthogonal translation systems, and expanded genetic codes—represent a deep reconstruction of living systems, but do not yet constitute fully autonomous synthetic life. To clarify these distinctions, we introduce several conceptual tools: the Pasteurian Wall separating living from non-living systems, the Genetic Firewall as a biosafety principle for engineered organisms, and an Expanded Chemoton framework that provides an engineering-oriented operational definition of life based on metabolic autonomy, informational closure, and evolvability. Together, these elements allow experimental systems to be positioned along a functional continuum from sophisticated biochemical artifacts to genuinely alternative living systems. By replacing metaphor-driven narratives with operational categories, this framework aims to strengthen conceptual clarity, experimental comparability, and governance of emerging synthetic life technologies.
Open Access
Article
03 August 2026Green Synthesis of NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles Using Combretum Indicum Leaf Extract for the Synthesis of 2-Aryl Benzimidazole
The versatile applications of nitrogen-containing heterocycles in different industries have engendered a lot of research. Benzimidazole derivatives, as isostructural pharmacophores of naturally occurring active biomolecules, are popular chemotherapeutic drugs. The present study focuses on a green methodology for the synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanocomposite using Combretum indicum leaf extract, and for the synthesis of 2-aryl benzimidazole derivatives via the condensation of aromatic aldehydes and O-phenylenediamine. The synthesized catalyst was characterized through various analytical techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and BET. It has several advantages, including a rapid reaction at room temperature, easy work-up, high product yield, simple purification, and a reusable catalyst. The catalyst was reused for up to six consecutive cycles, with the yield decreasing only marginally from 95% (fresh catalyst) to 89% (sixth reuse).
