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In patients with Parkinson’s disease, focused ultrasound ablation of the globus pallidus internus reduced motor impairment and dyskinesias at 3 months. Adverse events included dysarthria, gait disturbance, and loss of taste.

This study presents the development and implementation of an AI-driven control system for dynamic regulation of hydrogen blending in natural gas networks. Leveraging supervised machine learning techniques, a Random Forest Classifier was trained to accurately identify the origin of gas blends based on compositional fingerprints, achieving rapid inference suitable for real-time applications. Concurrently, a Random Forest Regression model was developed to estimate the optimal hydrogen flow rate required to meet a user-defined higher calorific value target, demonstrating exceptional predictive accuracy with a mean absolute error of 0.0091 Nm3 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9992 on test data. The integrated system, deployed via a Streamlit-based graphical interface, provides continuous real-time adjustments of gas composition, alongside detailed physicochemical property estimation and emission metrics. Validation through comparative analysis of predicted versus actual hydrogen flow rates confirms the robustness and generalizability of the approach under both simulated and operational conditions. The proposed framework enhances operational transparency and economic efficiency by enabling adaptive blending control and automatic source identification, thereby facilitating optimized fuel quality management and compliance with industrial standards. This work contributes to advancing smart combustion technologies and supports the sustainable integration of renewable hydrogen in existing gas infrastructures.

Soil degradation, declining fertility, and rising greenhouse gas emissions highlight the urgent need for sustainable soil management strategies. Among them, biochar has gained recognition as a multifunctional material capable of enhancing soil fertility, sequestering carbon, and valorizing biomass residues within circular economy frameworks. This review synthesizes evidence from 186 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate how feedstock diversity, pyrolysis temperature, and elemental composition shape the agronomic and environmental performance of biochar. Crop residues dominated the literature (17.6%), while wood, manures, sewage sludge, and industrial by-products provided more targeted functionalities. Pyrolysis temperature emerged as the primary performance driver: 300–400 °C biochars improved pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), water retention, and crop yield, whereas 450–550 °C biochars favored stability, nutrient concentration, and long-term carbon sequestration. Elemental composition averaged 60.7 wt.% C, 2.1 wt.% N, and 27.5 wt.% O, underscoring trade-offs between nutrient supply and structural persistence. Greenhouse gas (GHG) outcomes were context-dependent, with consistent Nitrous Oxide (N2O) reductions in loam and clay soils but variable CH4 responses in paddy systems. An emerging trend, present in 10.6% of studies, is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve predictive accuracy, adsorption modeling, and life-cycle assessment. Collectively, the evidence confirms that biochar cannot be universally optimized but must be tailored to specific objectives, ranging from soil fertility enhancement to climate mitigation.

This study investigated the application of biochar obtained from black liquor, a residue generated during the Kraft pulping process in the paper industry, as a sustainable soil amendment in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation. The biochar was produced through controlled pyrolysis at 450 °C and subsequently characterized with respect to elemental composition, porosity, specific surface area, and chemical stability, confirming its suitability for agricultural use. The experiment comprised three treatments: unamended soil (control), soil supplemented with 3% biochar, and soil fertilized with NPK, all conducted under controlled growth conditions. The results showed that biochar significantly improved key soil fertility indicators, increasing cation exchange capacity from 11 to 19 cmol(+)/kg and soil organic matter from 2.1% to 2.6%. Mineral nitrogen availability increased from 7.0 mg/kg to 10.5 mg/kg in the biochar treatment compared with the control. At the plant level, biochar enhanced early barley growth, with plant height increasing from 25 cm to 27 cm and chlorophyll content rising from 32.35 SPAD units to 39 SPAD units. Although NPK fertilization produced slightly higher immediate growth responses, biochar contributed to improved soil chemical properties and nutrient retention. Overall, the results suggest that black liquor-derived biochar shows potential as a complementary soil amendment under controlled conditions.

Based on the global need to efficiently eliminate highly produced amounts of sewage sludge, alternative technologies are required to be practically developed. Reduction of sewage sludge waste quantities with energy recovery is the most important and modern practice, with least possible impact on the environment. Appropriate technologies for treating and disposal sewage sludge are currently considered: incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. The main products generated during the pyrolysis process are bio-gas, bio-oil and bio-residue, providing sustainable fuels/ biofuels and adsorbents. Compared to other disposal methods of sewage sludge, pyrolysis has advantages in terms of the environment: waste in small quantities, low emissions, low level of heavy metals. From a technological point of view, pyrolysis is the most efficient in relation to its final products, pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas and solid residue that can be transformed into CO 2 adsorbent with the help of chemical and thermal activation processes. The incineration process of sewage sludge has a number of disadvantages both environmentally and technologically: organic pollutants, heavy metals, toxic pollutants and ash resulting from combustion that needs a disposal process. A comparison of different types of sewage sludge elimination for the energy recovery is described in the present paper. Article Highlights Sewage sludge is a waste in increasing quantities, which requires disposal and energy recovery, in a clean way for the environment. The pyrolysis process of sewage sludge is the cleanest method of its recovery. Pyrolysis products, bio-oil, syngas and biochar, can be used as alternative fuels to fossil fuels. The pyrolysis process of the sewage sludge is the most advantageous from the point of view of the obtained products and of the environment, in comparison with the incineration and gasification processes.

Background. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) VIM-thalamotomy has established efficacy and safety in tremor relief in patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. The efficacy and safety in patients with atypical parkinsonism have not been reported. Objective. To report on the efficacy and safety of FUS VIM-thalamotomy in 8 patients with parkinsonism, multiple system atrophy-Parkinsonian type (MSA-P) (n = 5), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) (n = 3). Methods. Tremor was assessed in the treated hemibody using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). The motor Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSAR) was used in the MSA-P and motor sections of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III) in DLB patients. Cognition was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results. In MSA-P and DLB patients, there was immediate tremor relief. CRST scores measured on the treated side improved compared to baseline. During the follow-up of up to 1 year tremor reduction persisted. The change in CRST scores at different time points did not reach statistical significance, probably due to the small sample size. Adverse events were transient and resolved within a year. Conclusions. In our experience, FUS VIM-thalamotomy was effective in patients with MSA-P and DLB. Larger, controlled studies are needed to verify our preliminary observations.

The study tried to contribute to solving two serious environmental issues: CO2 reducing and sewage sludge disposal. Thus, sewage-sludge-derived materials were obtained in order to be evaluated for CO2 adsorption capacity. Therefore, the char resulted after the sewage sludge pyrolysis was subjected to oxidation and chemical activation processes by using different quantities of alkaline hydroxide. One of the obtained materials, activated with a lower quantity of alkaline hydroxide, was also treated with acid chloride. Further, the materials were structural and texturally characterized, and material treated with acid chloride was used for CO2 adsorption tests, due to high surface area and pore volume. The handmade system coupled to a gas chromatograph allowed the adsorption efficiency evaluation using different feed gases (rich and poor in CO2) by completed purge of pipe line and on-line check. Additionally, the adsorption capacity, separation efficiency, and CO2 recovery were calculated. Taking into account the values for adsorption capacity (separation efficiency and CO2 recovery), it can be concluded that the sewage sludge derived material could be a promising solution for CO2 reduction and waste disposal.

Background Tremor in essential tremor and in tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease is assessed by subjective observations in patients undergoing focused ultrasound thalamotomy, a minimally invasive procedure intended to alleviate tremor in these patients. Objective To develop an objective tool for tremor analysis to be used before and after focused ultrasound thalamotomy treatment in the treated hand (contralateral to ablation) and non-treated (ipsilateral to ablation). Methods Using image processing and signal processing that utilized images of a Archimedes spiral drawing, we created a tool to analyze tremor. First, we showed that the proposed tool reproduces known clinical dynamics on the treated hand, and then we used it to evaluate the clinical dynamics on the non-treated hand. Results Using the tool we developed, we were able to demonstrate a significant reduction in tremor following focused ultrasound thalamotomy among 132 essential tremor and 26 tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease patients in the treated hand using drawings of Archimedes spirals up to 1 year following the procedure. Thus, we reproduced known clinical data and therefore validated the proposed tool. In addition, we were able to demonstrate a significant improvement in the non-treated hand as well as a significant deterioration in the efficacy of focused ultrasound thalamotomy over time. Conclusion Our objective method, which incorporated image processing and signal processing, provided a quantitative measure of tremor reduction following focused ultrasound thalamotomy. It demonstrated significant improvement in tremors in the treated and non-treated hands following focused ultrasound thalamotomy as well as deterioration in the efficacy of treatment over time. If replicated in other studies, this method may complement current subjective assessments.

Background Applying ultrasonic imaging system during surgery requires the poring of saline, performing the measurement, and acquiring data from its display—which requires time and is highly “performer dependent,” i.e., the measure is of a subjective nature. A new ultrasonic device was recently developed that overcomes most of these drawbacks and was successfully applied during tumor-in-brain neurosurgeries. The purpose of this study was to compare the two types of US devices and demonstrate their properties. Methods The study was performed in the following stages: (i) an ex vivo experiment, where slices of the muscle and brain of a young porcine were laid one on top the other. Thicknesses and border depths were measured and compared, using the two types of US instruments. (ii) During human clinical neurosurgeries, tumor depth was compared by measuring it with both devices. (iii) Following the success of stages (i) and (ii), using solely the new US device, the tumor thickness was monitored while its resection. Correlation, Pearson’s coefficient, average, mean, and standard deviation were applied for statistical tests. Results A high correlation was obtained for the distances of tissue borders and for their respective thicknesses. Applying these ultrasonic devices during neurosurgeries, tumor depths were monitored with high similarity (87%), which was also obtained by Pearson’s correlation coefficient (0.44). The new US device, thanks to its small footprint, its remote measurement, and the capability of monitoring intraoperatively and in real-time, provides the approach to tumor’s border before its complete resection. Conclusions The new US device provides better accuracy than an ultrasonic imaging system; its data is objective; it enables to control the residual tumor thickness during its resection, and it is especially useful in restricted areas. These features were found of great help during a tumor-in-brain surgery and especially in the final stages of tumor’s resection.

Climate neutrality for the year 2050 is the goal assumed at the level of the EU27+UK. As Romania is no exception, it has assumed the gradual mitigation of pollution generated by the energy sector, and by 2030, according to ‘Fit for 55’, the share of energy from renewable sources must reach 42.5% from total energy consumption. For the rest of the energy produced from traditional sources, natural gas and/or coal, modern technologies will be used to retain the gaseous noxes. Even if they are not greenhouse gases, NO and SO2, generated from fossil fuel combustion, cause negative effects on the environment and biodiversity. The adsorption capacity of different materials, three nanomaterials developed in-house and three commercial adsorbents, both for NO and SO2, was tackled through gas chromatography, elemental analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Fe-BTC has proven to be an excellent material for separation efficiency and adsorption capacity under studied conditions, and is shown to be versatile both in the case of NO (80.00 cm3/g) and SO2 (63.07 cm3/g). All the developed nanomaterials generated superior results in comparison to the commercial adsorbents. The increase in pressure enhanced the performance of the absorption process, while temperature showed an opposite influence, by blocking the active centers on the surface.