Hasil untuk "Hazardous substances and their disposal"

V. Carruba, R. Sfair, O. C. Winter

Twenty co-orbital asteroids of Venus are currently known, several of which may evolve into potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) over timescales of thousands of years. We report the identification and first dynamical characterization of 2025 TV$_{10}$, a newly discovered Venus co-orbital asteroid, and assess its potential collisional hazard to Earth. We performed numerical simulations of a large number of asteroid clones, and we studied their close encounters with Venus and Earth. The asteroid may leave its co-orbital orbit on timescales of 1200 yr. The orbit of 2025 TV$_{10}$ is one of the closest of the absolute minimum of the "minimum orbital intersection distance" (MOID) with Earth for the Venus co-orbital asteroids known to date. Owing to its orbital parameters, 2025 TV$_{10}$ represents one of the most dynamically hazardous members of the Venus co-orbital population identified to date. Its faint magnitude and restricted observability windows make future observations challenging but essential for constraining its orbit.

Юркевич, Е.С., Иода, В.И., Камлюк, С.Н.

В работе представлены результаты новых исследований продуктов микробиологического синтеза, содержащих в качестве действующего начала (далее – д. н.) микробные клетки рода Bacillus– интенсификатора процессов очистки сточных вод и биодеструктора навоза. Изучена клиническая картина острого отравления, установлены параметры острой токсичности при однократном внутрижелудочном введении и накожном нанесении белым крысам; изучено сенсибилизирующее действие на белых мышах, раздражающее действие при однократных аппликациях на неповрежденные кожные покровы белых крыс и ирритативное действие при однократном воздействии на слизистые оболочки глаз кроликов-альбиносов; изучены особенности проявления токсического действия при повторном внутрижелудочном ведении белым крысам. По результатам, полученным в условиях острого и подострого экспериментов установлено, что биодеструктор навоза (д. н. – микробные клетки рода Bacillus в концентрации ≥ 107 КОЕ/г) и биоактиватор (д. н. – микробные клетки рода Bacillus в концентрации ≥109 КОЕ/г) не оказывают общетоксического и специфического действия на организм теплокровных животных. Экспериментальные данные свидетельствуют о благоприятном профиле безопасности исследуемых биопрепаратов и позволяют классифицировать их как продукты с допустимым уровнем риска для здоровья человека при их целевом использовании в агропромышленном комплексе с соблюдением установленных гигиенических регламентов и рекомендаций по применению.

Гасилов, В.С., Сагитдинов, Ю.И., Хайруллина, Л.И. et al.

Расчет пожарного риска с учетом рассеивания облака топливно-воздушной смеси (ТВС) является важным инструментом для повышения уровня безопасности на опасных производственных объектах (ОПО), защиты персонала и имущества эксплуатирующей организации. Пожары на ОПО представляют значительную угрозу жизни людей и материальным активам, а их последствия могут усугубляться погодными условиями, такими как ветер, способствующий распространению горения. В статье рассматриваются особенности расчета пожарного риска на ОПО, связанных с возможными авариями, вызванными распространением ТВС с учетом рассеивания (дрейфа) облака ТВС. В статье уделяется внимание методам расчета, которые учитывают динамику рассеивания и дрейфа облака ТВС в атмосфере. Анализируются такие факторы, как направление распространения облака ТВС, метеорологические условия, геометрия производственного пространства и характеристики самого вещества. Рассматриваются существующие методики расчета пожарного риска, которые не учитывают влияние ветра на формирование взрывоопасных зон ТВС. Показано, что при наличии ветра облако ТВС смещается от эпицентра разлива, что приводит к изменению зон пожарного риска. Предложена формула для оценки пожарного риска, учитывающая «розу ветров» для конкретного региона Российской Федерации. Предложенный в статье подход к расчету (по сценарию аварии: разгерметизация емкостного оборудования с последующим разливом жидкой фазы на открытой площадке) позволит более точно предсказывать зоны потенциальной опасности и более корректно разрабатывать меры по предотвращению и минимизации последствий возможных аварий на ОПО. Результаты исследования могут быть полезны для специалистов в области пожарной безопасности, проектирования ОПО и разработки нормативных документов.

Zohreh Karimiankakolaki

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. According to global statistics, over 1.9 million new cases of this cancer are diagnosed annually, resulting in approximately 935,000 deaths(Miller et al., 2019). The rate of colorectal cancer in Iran over the past years has been reported to be 7 cases per 100,000 people, making it the fourth most common cancer in Iran(Vakili et al., 2014). Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for CRC screening and diagnosis, capable of reducing mortality rates by 40–60% (Miller et al., 2019). Despite its proven efficacy, acceptance rates for colonoscopy, particularly in developing countries and rural areas, remain suboptimal(Wang et al., 2019). Colonoscopy screening represents a powerful tool in the fight against colorectal cancer, offering both early detection and preventive capabilities. While many high-income countries achieve screening coverage of 50–80%, low- and middle-income countries typically report rates below 10% (Dare et al., 2021, Gravitt et al., 2021, Petersen et al., 2022). This disparity reflects significant structural, financial, cultural, and educational barriers that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations(Petersen et al., 2022). In developed countries, psychological factors such as fear of pain, embarrassment, and anxiety about findings represent primary barriers(Miller et al., 2019, Yue et al., 2025). In developing countries, systemic challenges, including limited healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, and low awareness, play a more significant role(Wang et al., 2019, Travis et al., 2024, Lim et al., 2021, Paudel et al., 2025). Numerous studies have identified fear and anxiety as major barriers to colonoscopy acceptance (Wang et al., 2019, Travis et al., 2024, Lim et al., 2021, Paudel et al., 2025). Accordingly, patients commonly report concerns about pain during the procedure (68% of cases), anxiety about potential complications such as bleeding or perforation (54%), embarrassment due to the invasive nature of the procedure (62%), and worry about possible findings (45%)(Miller et al., 2019, Yue et al., 2025). These psychological factors, combined with insufficient knowledge about the benefits of early detection and health literacy limitations, lead many individuals to avoid this critical screening method(Miller et al., 2019, Wang et al., 2019). Various educational interventions have been proposed to alleviate patient anxiety. Studies such as Shahrbabaki et al. (2022) have demonstrated that structured education programs can reduce patient anxiety by up to 35% (Shahrbabaki et al., 2022). In addition to requiring physical presence, these interventions are costly and time-consuming. Although digital interventions are available, they usually lack personal interaction and ongoing support(Evans et al., 2025). Tele-nursing—structured telephone counseling and education delivered by trained nurses—offers a promising solution to these challenges. Research indicates that tele-nursing interventions can significantly increase colonoscopy acceptance rates by addressing psychological barriers remotely(De Leo et al., 2022, Hsueh et al., 2016, Tsagkaris et al., 2023). This approach has been shown to reduce patient anxiety by providing personalized education and emotional support(Coughtrey and Pistrang, 2018). The method is particularly valuable in contexts with limited healthcare access, such as rural areas and during public health emergencies(Peng et al., 2024). The effectiveness of tele-nursing can be explained through self-efficacy theory. When patients receive targeted education and emotional support through telehealth platforms, their confidence in managing the procedure increases, thereby enhancing their willingness to undergo colonoscopy(Shahrbabaki et al., 2022). This method effectively addresses health literacy gaps and provides continuous support throughout the screening process(Cevheroğlu and Büyükyılmaz, 2024). Despite promising evidence, challenges remain in implementing tele-nursing. Variations in telehealth infrastructure and digital literacy may affect effectiveness across different populations (Shahrbabaki et al., 2022). Additionally, standardizing educational content and training specialized personnel require more attention(Evans et al., 2025). Future research should focus on developing culturally adapted interventions and measuring long-term outcomes in diverse populations(Chen et al., 2023). The study by Mashhadi et al. showed that face-to-face education and educational videos were able to reduce the anxiety of patients who were candidates for colonoscopy, and also emphasized that the implementation of such interventions should be planned according to the time constraints of medical personnel and the conditions of the patients, including cultural differences; their literacy level should also be taken into account(Mashhadi et al., 2020). This point can indicate the importance of distance education and tele-nursing.

Kafayat Aminu

Background: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a major global public health concern, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa. In Nigeria, most research has emphasized clinical and rehabilitative outcomes, with limited attention to sociocultural aspects of SCI care. This study examined how people living with SCI and their caregivers navigate the healthcare landscape, and the sociocultural factors shaping their choices and experiences. Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2018 and February 2019 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a mixed-methods design. Data were collected through surveys with 108 informal caregivers, in-depth interviews with 30 SCI patients and caregivers, and 6 key informant interviews with traditional healers. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Results: Biomedical care was the most common initial response to SCI, driven by its acute presentation and availability of specialized services. Many participants later concurrently or sequentially utilized alternative care, including traditional bone setting (25.9%) and spiritual healing (71.3%). Medical tourism was reported in a few cases, and decision-making was heavily influenced by family, friends, and spiritual advisors. Despite skepticism, some caregivers reported psychological and cultural value in alternative therapies. No significant associations were found between caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics and alternative care use. Conclusion: Healthcare-seeking for SCI in Nigeria reflects a complex blend of biomedical, traditional, and spiritual practices. Integrating culturally sensitive, community-based rehabilitation strategies with evidence-based care is critical for improving outcomes and ensuring continuity of care in LMICs.

Shashank Shriram, Srinivasa Perisetla, Aryan Keskar et al.

Detecting anomalous hazards in visual data, particularly in video streams, is a critical challenge in autonomous driving. Existing models often struggle with unpredictable, out-of-label hazards due to their reliance on predefined object categories. In this paper, we propose a multimodal approach that integrates vision-language reasoning with zero-shot object detection to improve hazard identification and explanation. Our pipeline consists of a Vision-Language Model (VLM), a Large Language Model (LLM), in order to detect hazardous objects within a traffic scene. We refine object detection by incorporating OpenAI's CLIP model to match predicted hazards with bounding box annotations, improving localization accuracy. To assess model performance, we create a ground truth dataset by denoising and extending the foundational COOOL (Challenge-of-Out-of-Label) anomaly detection benchmark dataset with complete natural language descriptions for hazard annotations. We define a means of hazard detection and labeling evaluation on the extended dataset using cosine similarity. This evaluation considers the semantic similarity between the predicted hazard description and the annotated ground truth for each video. Additionally, we release a set of tools for structuring and managing large-scale hazard detection datasets. Our findings highlight the strengths and limitations of current vision-language-based approaches, offering insights into future improvements in autonomous hazard detection systems. Our models, scripts, and data can be found at https://github.com/mi3labucm/COOOLER.git

Layla Bouzoubaa, Muqi Guo, Joseph Trybala et al.

TikTok has emerged as a major source of information and social interaction for youth, raising urgent questions about how substance use discourse manifests and circulates on the platform. This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of publicly visible, algorithmically surfaced substance-related content on TikTok, drawing on hashtags spanning all major substance categories. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines social network analysis with qualitative content coding, we examined 2,333 substance-related hashtags, identifying 16 distinct hashtag communities and characterizing their structural and thematic relationships. Our network analysis reveals a highly interconnected small-world structure in which recovery-focused hashtags such as \textit{\#addiction}, \textit{\#recovery}, and \textit{\#sober} serve as central bridges between communities. Qualitative analysis of 351 representative videos shows that Recovery Advocacy content (33.9\%) and Satirical content (28.2\%) dominate, while direct substance depiction appears in only 26\% of videos, with active use shown in just 6.5\% of them. These findings suggest that the algorithmically surfaced layer of substance-related discourse on TikTok is predominantly oriented toward recovery, support, and coping rather than explicit promotion of substance use. We further show that hashtag communities and video content are closely aligned, indicating that substance-related discourse on TikTok is shaped through organic community formation within platform affordances rather than widespread adversarial evasion of moderation. This work contributes to social computing research by showing how algorithmic visibility on TikTok shapes the organization of substance-related discourse and the formation of recovery and support communities.

Suhala Rabab Saba, Sagar Dasgupta, Mizanur Rahman et al.

Rural roadways often expose Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers to hazardous conditions, such as heavy fog, rain, snow, black ice, and flash floods, many of which remain unreported in real time. This lack of timely information, coupled with limited infrastructure in rural areas, significantly increases the risk of crashes. Although various sensing technologies exist to monitor individual hazards like low visibility or surface friction, they rarely assess the combined driving risk posed by multiple simultaneous hazards, nor do they provide actionable recommendations such as safe advisory speeds. To address this critical gap, in this study, we present a roadway hazard risk assessment framework that provides an approach to quantify the probability and severity of crash occurrences due to specific roadway hazards. To evaluate this framework, we presented a case study by constructing a synthetic "year-long" dataset that encompasses every possible pairing of road surface and visibility conditions. Our analysis confirms that the combined ProbabilitySeverity scoring yields a coherent, stepwise risk profile across all hazard scenarios. These results validate the practicality of our risk assessment approach and provide a foundation for deploying graduated safety measures in real-world roadway operations.

Anh-Kiet Duong, Petra Gomez-Krämer

This paper presents a novel approach for hazard analysis in dashcam footage, addressing the detection of driver reactions to hazards, the identification of hazardous objects, and the generation of descriptive captions. We first introduce a method for detecting driver reactions through speed and sound anomaly detection, leveraging unsupervised learning techniques. For hazard detection, we employ a set of heuristic rules as weak classifiers, which are combined using an ensemble method. This ensemble approach is further refined with differential privacy to mitigate overconfidence, ensuring robustness despite the lack of labeled data. Lastly, we use state-of-the-art vision-language models for hazard captioning, generating descriptive labels for the detected hazards. Our method achieved the highest scores in the Challenge on Out-of-Label in Autonomous Driving, demonstrating its effectiveness across all three tasks. Source codes are publicly available at https://github.com/ffyyytt/COOOL_2025.

Maliha Ashraf, Pankaj Kumar Gupta, Anushree Malik et al.

The presence of metformin (MTN) and erythromycin (ETM) in groundwater is a growing global concern due to their persistence and toxicity. This study addresses a critical gap in understanding the fate and transport of these pharmaceutical and personal care products in saturated sandy soil columns at environmentally relevant concentrations, an underexplored area. The results show that MTN, due to its high mobility, appeared earlier in the soil column with a recovery rate exceeding 90 % and an adsorption coefficient (Kd) of 1.063 Lkg−1. In contrast, ETM, with a higher Kd value of 5.426 Lkg−1, exhibited delayed breakthrough and recovery of less than 15 %, indicating stronger adsorption potential. Desorption studies indicated a greater risk of MTN leaching into groundwater, while ETM remained strongly adsorbed to soil particles. Despite the limited organic matter content in sandy soil, a significant amount of ETM was adsorbed, suggesting sands' high adsorption capacity and potential for natural remediation. This research fills a knowledge gap regarding the adsorption capacity of sandy soils at environmentally relevant concentrations, providing essential insights for environmental risk assessments and groundwater contamination mitigation strategies, directly supporting Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 14 (Life Below Water).

Kian-Ghee Tiew

Chromium elements are prevalent in daily life, and millions of tonnes of Chromium Ore Processing Residue (COPR) remain untreated in China, posing significant environmental risks. In search of a cost-effective and environmentally friendly treatment method, this study investigated the potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a biological treatment for COPR. Experiments were conducted using BSFL to treat 100 % COPR and a mixture of 50 % COPR with 50 % wheat bran. Post-treatment analysis using ICP-MS, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy revealed a significant reduction of approximately 43 % in COPR dry mass and a decrease in total hexavalent chromium content from 5636 ppm to 563 ppm. The optimal treatment conditions involved mixing 50 % COPR with 50 % wheat bran. The results suggest that BSFL can serve as a sustainable and economically viable biological treatment for hazardous waste such as COPR, offering potential benefits for both the environment and the economy. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and effects of BSFL on hazardous waste treatment.

Di Zheng, Zhuning Geng, Runlei Ge et al.

Electrical resistance heating (ERH) is a promising in-situ technology for heterogeneous organic contaminated site remediation, yet may have low efficiency when treating semi-volatile organic contaminant (SVOC) of relatively high boiling point. Herein, we chose nitrobenzene as a representative SVOC, and proposed an ERH system powered by pulsed direct current (PDC) with simple hydraulic circulation for improved remediation efficiency in heterogeneous media. The proposed PDC-ERH with hydraulic circulation showed overall improvement in heating performance and energy efficiency, as well as migration and removal of nitrobenzene. This new system improved the uniformity of PDC heating and achieved a temperature increase of ∼15°C compared to that using conventional alternating current (AC) of same voltage. Nitrobenzene migration out of the low permeability zone (LPZ) was intensified by the dual effects of heat-induced diffusion enhancement and electric field-induced electroosmotic flow, while subsequent removal was enhanced by electrochemical degradation and volatilization. After 96 h, the proposed system has a higher nitrobenzene removal from LPZ (> 97.1%) compared to that using AC (84.0%–95.9%). These results suggest PDC heating coupled with hydraulic circulation was a promising approach for heterogeneous site remediation.

Shadab Shahali

Gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict zones is a widespread and devastating issue with significant implications for the health and well-being of affected populations. As an expert in sexual and reproductive health, the author aims to highlight the multifaceted health effects of GBV during wartime, supported by extensive research and evidence. This editorial will examine the physical, psychological, and social health impacts of GBV in conflict settings, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive interventions and policy responses. Gender-based violence in war encompasses a range of abuses, including sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and other forms of physical and psychological abuse. These acts are often used as tools of war to terrorize, displace, and control populations. The prevalence of GBV in conflict zones is alarmingly high, with women and girls being disproportionately affected (Goessmann et al.,2020). The physical health consequences of (GBV) in war are severe and complex. Survivors often endure injuries such as genital trauma, fractures, and internal damage, resulting in chronic pain and disability that significantly reduce their quality of life. Additionally, the lack of preventive measures leads to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unwanted pregnancies. Restricted access to healthcare in conflict zones worsens these issues, contributing to higher rates of maternal and infant mortality (Tol et al.,2013). Stigma surrounding STIs further hinders access to treatment and support (Think Global Health,2022). The psychological impact of GBV in war is deep and enduring, with survivors frequently facing mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety (World Health Organization ,2014; Carpiniello,2023). The trauma of GBV is exacerbated by continuous stress and instability of living in a conflict zone (Perrin et al.,2019).  PTSD frequently affects survivors of GBV in wartime, manifested as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety that may last for years after the trauma (World Health Organization ,2014; Carpiniello,2023). Experiencing GBV can result in chronic depression and anxiety, hindering survivors' daily functioning. The absence of mental health services in conflict zones worsens these issues (Tol  et al.,2013).Survivors of GBV frequently experience social stigma and ostracization, resulting in isolation and increased psychological distress. Many refrain from seeking help due to fear of retribution or disbelief (Carpiniello,2023; Perrin et al.,2019). The social health impacts of GBV in war extend beyond individual survivors, affecting families and communities. The breakdown of social structures and the displacement of populations create environments where GBV can thrive, perpetuating cycles of violence and instability(Capasso et al.,2023; World Bank,2024) . GBV can disrupt family dynamics, leading to the breakdown of relationships and the displacement of family members. Children who witness or experience GBV are at risk of long-term psychological and behavioral issues. The prevalence of GBV in conflict zones undermines community cohesion and trust. The fear and trauma associated with GBV can hinder community rebuilding efforts and prolong the recovery process (Perrin et al.,2019). The economic impact of GBV is significant, as survivors may be unable to work or participate in economic activities. The loss of productivity and the cost of healthcare for survivors place additional burdens on already strained resources (World Bank,2024). Addressing the health effects of GBV in war requires a multifaceted approach that includes prevention, protection, and support for survivors. Effective interventions must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the local context and the specific needs of affected populations preventing GBV in conflict zones involves addressing the root causes of violence, including gender inequality and the normalization of violence. Community-based programs that promote gender equality and challenge harmful norms are essential. Protecting survivors of GBV requires the establishment of safe spaces and the provision of legal and medical support. International humanitarian organizations play a crucial role in providing these services in conflict zones. Comprehensive support services for survivors, including medical care, mental health support, and economic assistance, are vital for recovery. These services must be accessible and culturally appropriate to be effective (Capasso et al.,2023; Tol et al.,2013). The health effects of gender-based violence in conflict are profound, affecting individuals, families, and communities. As an expert in sexual and reproductive health, the author stresses the urgent need for comprehensive interventions and policy responses to tackle this issue. By prioritizing prevention, protection, and support for survivors, the devastating health impacts of GBV in conflict zones can be mitigated and a more just and equitable world can be fostered.

Priyanka Airi Goyal, Indu Talwar

Background: During adolescence, nutrition is crucial for physical and cognitive development, yet socio-economic disparities and nutritional deficiencies, especially in girls, lead to health vulnerabilities, including high anemia rates. Despite recent data from the National Family Health Survey, there is limited information on adolescents aged 11-16 years, requiring targeted research. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the nutritional status, determine the prevalence of anemia, and explore associated factors among adolescent girls of the scheduled caste in District Yamunanagar, Haryana, India. Methods: The study sampled 450 scheduled caste girls aged 11-16 years from schools in District Yamunanagar, Haryana. Height and weight were measured to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Data on micro-environmental factors, socio-economic and demographic variables, and dietary habits were collected through interview-based schedule. Hemoglobin levels were measured using Sahli’s Acid Haematin technique, and nutritional status was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) standards (Z-score method). Results: The study found increases in height, weight, and BMI with age, with notable spurts at 12-13 years for height and 11-12 years for weight and BMI. Significant differences in height, weight, and BMI were observed between age groups. Moreover, 92.2% girls were found to be anemic, with most of them suffering from moderate anemia. Additionally, the prevalence of stunting was 67.33% and wasting was 64.90% among the girls. Household size, number of family members and menarcheal status of the girls showed a significant association with the nutritional status and anemic of the girls. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need of regular screening and timely interventions to improve the nutritional and anemic status of adolescent girls.

Mansura Islam, Shah Ehsan Habib, Raminul Islam Rifat

Background: Comprehensive studies on the determinants of modern contraceptive use in humanitarian settings are relatively uncommon in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive use among Rohingya women living in the refugee camp of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 160 Rohingya refugee women aged 15-49 living in   unregistered camps (Camps 7 and 14) in Ukhiya Upazila, Cox's Bazar. In the study, participants were selected using a convenience sampling method, and the sample size was calculated using the single population proportion formula. However, only 160 participants were recruited due to travel restrictions and safety measures implemented throughout Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were gathered via a structured questionnaire. Results were summarized using both descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS v.23 software was used for data analysis at 5% level of significance. Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use was found to be 41.9%. The most commonly used contraceptives were Injection Depot-Provera  (65.7%) and Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) (28.4%) followed by implant (4.5%) and intrauterine device (IUD) (1.5%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed lower odds of modern contraceptive use among women who had more than a 1.5 year interval between the last two pregnancies (OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.07– 0.51) and higher odds were found who expressed a lack of desire for future pregnancies (OR = 13.69; 95% CI = 3.43–54.68). Community Health Workers (CHWs) (80.4%) were the main sources of information on modern contraceptives, whereas hospitals (83.6%) were the most accessible places to obtain contraceptives. Conclusion: Community health workers play a vital role in disseminating information, emphasizing the need for their training and involvement in relevant programs. These findings are crucial for shaping future research, policies, and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings.

Håkon A. Langberg, Hans Peter H. Arp, Gabriela Castro et al.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in paper products since the 1960s. PFAS emissions during the life cycle of these products have been substantial sources of these substances to the environment. Here, a total of 37 PFAS were analysed in 13 paper products sampled in 2021, for which some were made of virgin paper and others recycled paper, including food contact materials (FCM), packaging, and a notebook. In addition, different fractions of the recycling process of corrugated paper and board were sampled at a Norwegian cardboard recycling plant and analysed for the same PFAS, to get an overview of PFAS in the recycling stream of these materials in Norway. PFAS were found in recycled paper and board, indicating PFAS can be a non-intentionally added substance (NIAS) in recycled paper products. Sum of targeted PFAS detected in paper products (including products made of virgin and recycled materials) ranged between 0.4 and 971 µg kg−1, dominated by SAmPAP diester and 6:2 FTS (0–62% and 0–98%, respectively). The sum of targeted PFAS in returned corrugated paper and board in Norway is at least 32 kg per year (6 mg per capita per year). Recycling is important to ensure sustainability. As part of the broad PFAS restriction in Europe, PFAS are to be restricted in paper and board materials. Thus, lower levels of PFAS entering the recycling stream are expected in the future. Monitoring is necessary to assess reductions of PFAS in the paper waste stream due to PFAS regulations in Europe.

Hongxiang Li, Yaowei Li, Yuhang Yang et al.

Controllable human image animation aims to generate videos from reference images using driving videos. Due to the limited control signals provided by sparse guidance (e.g., skeleton pose), recent works have attempted to introduce additional dense conditions (e.g., depth map) to ensure motion alignment. However, such strict dense guidance impairs the quality of the generated video when the body shape of the reference character differs significantly from that of the driving video. In this paper, we present DisPose to mine more generalizable and effective control signals without additional dense input, which disentangles the sparse skeleton pose in human image animation into motion field guidance and keypoint correspondence. Specifically, we generate a dense motion field from a sparse motion field and the reference image, which provides region-level dense guidance while maintaining the generalization of the sparse pose control. We also extract diffusion features corresponding to pose keypoints from the reference image, and then these point features are transferred to the target pose to provide distinct identity information. To seamlessly integrate into existing models, we propose a plug-and-play hybrid ControlNet that improves the quality and consistency of generated videos while freezing the existing model parameters. Extensive qualitative and quantitative experiments demonstrate the superiority of DisPose compared to current methods. Project page: \href{https://github.com/lihxxx/DisPose}{https://github.com/lihxxx/DisPose}.

Yao Ge, Sudeshna Das, Karen O'Connor et al.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a growing concern globally, necessitating enhanced understanding of the problem and its trends through data-driven research. Social media are unique and important sources of information about SUDs, particularly since the data in such sources are often generated by people with lived experiences. In this paper, we introduce Reddit-Impacts, a challenging Named Entity Recognition (NER) dataset curated from subreddits dedicated to discussions on prescription and illicit opioids, as well as medications for opioid use disorder. The dataset specifically concentrates on the lesser-studied, yet critically important, aspects of substance use--its clinical and social impacts. We collected data from chosen subreddits using the publicly available Application Programming Interface for Reddit. We manually annotated text spans representing clinical and social impacts reported by people who also reported personal nonmedical use of substances including but not limited to opioids, stimulants and benzodiazepines. Our objective is to create a resource that can enable the development of systems that can automatically detect clinical and social impacts of substance use from text-based social media data. The successful development of such systems may enable us to better understand how nonmedical use of substances affects individual health and societal dynamics, aiding the development of effective public health strategies. In addition to creating the annotated data set, we applied several machine learning models to establish baseline performances. Specifically, we experimented with transformer models like BERT, and RoBERTa, one few-shot learning model DANN by leveraging the full training dataset, and GPT-3.5 by using one-shot learning, for automatic NER of clinical and social impacts. The dataset has been made available through the 2024 SMM4H shared tasks.

Cory M. Simon, Jeffrey Richley, Lucas Overbey et al.

Teams of mobile [aerial, ground, or aquatic] robots have applications in resource delivery, patrolling, information-gathering, agriculture, forest fire fighting, chemical plume source localization and mapping, and search-and-rescue. Robot teams traversing hazardous environments -- with e.g. rough terrain or seas, strong winds, or adversaries capable of attacking or capturing robots -- should plan and coordinate their trails in consideration of risks of disablement, destruction, or capture. Specifically, the robots should take the safest trails, coordinate their trails to cooperatively achieve the team-level objective with robustness to robot failures, and balance the reward from visiting locations against risks of robot losses. Herein, we consider bi-objective trail-planning for a mobile team of robots orienteering in a hazardous environment. The hazardous environment is abstracted as a directed graph whose arcs, when traversed by a robot, present known probabilities of survival. Each node of the graph offers a reward to the team if visited by a robot (which e.g. delivers a good to or images the node). We wish to search for the Pareto-optimal robot-team trail plans that maximize two [conflicting] team objectives: the expected (i) team reward and (ii) number of robots that survive the mission. A human decision-maker can then select trail plans that balance, according to their values, reward and robot survival. We implement ant colony optimization, guided by heuristics, to search for the Pareto-optimal set of robot team trail plans. As a case study, we illustrate with an information-gathering mission in an art museum.

Xi Zhang, Weiguo Zhang, Yao Feng et al.

The separation and recovery of Fe(III) in heavy metal mixtures is a great challenge due to its strong ion exchange property. In this study, we developed a novel cinnamon-like blended fiber (PAN/PEG) using electrostatic spinning and dissolution post-treatment, which exhibited highly selective separation properties and satisfactory adsorption capacity for Fe(III). Owing to the preferential coordination of Fe(III) with both cyanide and hydroxyl groups, PAN/PEG possessed such excellent adsorption capacity as 1.12 mmol/g. Notably, the infinite selective separation coefficient between Fe(III) and other heavy metal ions (HMIs) achieved even from the octa-mixed metal systems. Furthermore, PAN/PEG demonstrated good anti-interference ability against coexisting inorganic salts. In addition, PAN/PEG was highly effective in removing lower concentration Fe(III) from complex PTA wastewater with super-high selectivity, which enabled the subsequent purification of Co(II) and Mn(II). Overall, PAN/PEG could be prepared and recovered facilely, and had great potential in the exclusive separation of Fe(III).