Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has once again been in the news for the wrong reasons. Is it time for unsophisticated investors to be proscribed from accessing?
Even before President Trump chinked his first alcohol-free glass in celebration, the DeFi industry was looking forward to a welcome reset after Gary Gensler’s capricious SEC. Many giants of the new economy attended his inauguration. A new era of optimism was palpable.
Nevertheless clouds of concern were not far away. The double launch of the President’s and First Lady’s memecoins, hit hard by two whales dumping at large on 25 February 2025, shows the continuing volatility of memecoins, where intrinsic value is difficult, if not impossible, to discover.

OxTube, a new water treatment innovation clarifies water matrices in tube condition with nature respect within seconds. It can be integrated in ships and other watercrafts. The seas suffer low oxygen, algae, toxins and micro plastics. A cargo ship can clarify sea water 288 000 m³ a day in depth of 4 to 5 meter when cruising without additional fuel consumption.
OxTube generates huge amount of air bubbles along with water clarification. Mixture of air bubbles and water is coherent and viscosity up to ten times lower than water. It can be led under the cruising ship in order to reduce flow resistance and fuel consumption. All kinds of combined processing is economically and environmentally beneficial. According to MIT Group combined energy and water system could provide for millions.
Keywords: Water Clarification; Water Treatment; Sea Water Refreshing; Water Oxygenation; Flow Resistance Reduction; Fuel Saving

Ackerknecht has describe “hospital medicine” quite succinctly in this way – “it was only at the hospital that the three pillars of the new medicine – physical examination, autopsy, and statistics – could be developed” [1].
Following Ackerknecht, “hospital medicine” developed in tandem with the onslaught of industrial revolution in Europe – “These were essentially a consequence of the tremendous influx of uprooted and penniless boys and girls from the country and of the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution” [2]. Such idea is substantiated by other researchers too – “The patients were poor, less articulate, less troublesome, and it was much easier to carry out research on them (especially statistically based research which required large numbers in one place – the hospital). Moreover, the advantage of the poor was that the large numbers of post-mortems that were carried out would elicit no complaints from influential families” [3].

Human beings tend to experience or possess non-material and material objects in the world such as love and care or wealth and power. However, Aristotle contends that the well-being of a human being is to be appreciated in the human-centric fact that he has the distinct ability to exercise reason. If he manages to exercise his reason well then, he can realize his state of well-being as an objective state in the world. Such an objective state of well-being or being virtuous is the telos or purpose of being human and other objects in the world as mentioned above are subservient to this ultimate end of human life.

This manuscript discusses the use of earthworms and their extracts as used in ancient and recent medical practice. Although there have been many studies involved using earthworms for medical remedies, this report is restricted to those where the patients are humans vis-à-vis other animal species.
Keywords: earthworm extracts; medicine; treatments; Lumbricus rubellus; L. terrestris; Eisenia fetida

Supramolecules in chemotherapy refer to larger, complex structures formed by non-covalent interactions between molecules, often used in drug delivery systems or as therapeutic agents themselves. These structures can enhance the effectiveness and specificity of chemotherapy treatments by enabling more targeted drug delivery, improving the pharmacokinetics, and minimizing side effects.

Forensic toxicology presents a significant challenge in the field of forensic medicine. Forensic Toxicology is one of the most impressive and important subfields of forensic science. Over the past 40 years, forensic science has grown significantly. Forensic toxicology is the scientific discipline that focuses on the detection, analysis, and interpretation of substances such as drugs, alcohol, and poisons in the human body, especially in relation to legal cases. It plays a crucial role in criminal investigations, post-mortem examinations, and determining causes of death or impairment in legal contexts.

Background: Kidney transplantation is well established as the best treatment for restoring quality of life to patients with end stage kidney disease(ESKD). Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is reported to have better graft survival and overall patient outcomes compared to deceased donation. The safety and quality of life of a Living kidney donor is important both for the sustainability of the transplant programs and for prospective donors aspiring to become living kidney donors.
Methodology: Data was collected from all participants using a self/interviewer administered questionnaire to help evaluate their socio demographic and socio economic status pre and post kidney donation.
Results: During the study period, 84 Living Donors who had undergone donor nephrectomy for kidney donation between January 2010 and September 2014 were interviewed. 48 [57.1%] were male and 36 [42.9%] were female. 64.3% of the donors were discharged from the hospital by the 5th day after surgery and 58.3% resumed their normal duties before 2 months.84.5% maintained their previous occupation and 15.5% changed their occupation with reasons of better paying job than what they were doing previously. 97.6% reported no hospitalization after kidney donation compared with 78.6 % before kidney donation.  84.5% of the respondents reported no change in their social life after kidney donation. 97.6 % could recommend somebody to donate a kidney, 94% reporting that kidney donation changed lives of the recipients and that their lives did not change negatively, they were able to go on with their normal life. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of Living Donors believed that their quality of life did not decrease after Living Kidney Donation.
Conclusion: Kidney donation does not have a significant negative impact on quality of life of kidney donors since even after donation the donors remained physically and mentally healthy and maintained their social life.
Keywords: Kidney transplant; Living kidney donor; End stage kidney disease

Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) disease represents an interconnected spectrum of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic dysfunctions that significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in biomarkers, including trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and soluble ST2 (sST2), have enhanced the precision of early detection and risk stratification. Emerging innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) have further revolutionized CKM care, enabling dynamic risk prediction, personalized treatment, and real-time monitoring. This article discusses cutting- edge biomarkers, AI-driven prevention strategies, and cost-effective interventions while highlighting the integration of environmental and social determinants into CKM prevention frameworks.
Keywords: Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Disease; Biomarkers; Artificial Intelligence; Prevention Strategies

No one can live in isolation. People must exchange goods or services as necessary since they cannot possess or know everything. How they do that influences their health and life trajectory.
In the healthcare industry, delivering medical services to needy people and accessing such products represent a part of the provider-customer relationship.

Introduction: Limited access to water and toilet facilities in schools increases the exposure of the school population to diseases related to hydro-fecal hazard. The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with the availability of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) services in schools in the city of Kisangani.
Methods: a cross-sectional study with analytical aims was conductedin 10 schools in the commune of Makiso, with 422 students and 120 teachers, during the period from September 1 to November 30, 2024.Pearson's chi-square test was used to investigate factors associated with EHA service availability.
Results: 25% of schools had a sanitation brigade. Almost all schools had toilets (98%), the most common number being 3 to 4 toilets (48%), 52% of schools lacked urinals and 100% did not have ramps for students with disabilities. School waste was more often disposed of by open burning (86%) and 48% of schools had farming equipment. The availability of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) services was significantly high in schools in the denominational network and in those connected to the water distribution network (REGIDESO). The availability of farming equipment for sanitation work was significantly high in schools in the denominational network and almost zero for schools in the official network (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: The WASH service meeting the standards is poorly available at school level, the school's network of belonging is a factor associated with the availability of this service.
Keywords: Water; Hygiene; Sanitation; Schools; Kisangani; DRC

One crucial aspect of systems engineering is the critical interplay between humans and technology. My recent research, titled "Management of Operational Usability Requirements: The Key to Saving Resources and Good Performance of Military Materials," underscores this point. While this research focuses on the Brazilian Army, its findings and recommendations have broader implications for the development of complex systems across various engineering disciplines.

China’s aluminum reduction industry faces strict energy consumption and environmental protection challenges. In response, an enterprise upgraded and optimized its 330 kA aluminum reduction cell, initially commissioned years ago. By analyzing issues related to magnetic field distribution, cathode structure, lining design, and upper cell structure, they proposed several enhancement measurements. Using new technologies to optimize the busbar magnetic field significantly improved the magnetohydrodynamic stability of the cells. The introduction of graphitized cathode blocks reduced cathode voltage drop and horizontal current in the aluminum liquid. Additionally, improvements in the cell lining insulation and gas collection efficiency of cell upper structure were made. The upgraded cell line now operates at a higher current and have significantly lower energy consumption, with a reduction of about 692 kWh per ton of aluminum. This results in an annual energy savings of approximately 187 million kWh and an increase in aluminum production by about 20,000 tons.
Keywords: aluminum reduction cell; cell lining; busbar magnetic field; cell upper structure; cell control system; energy conservation and consumption reduction; upgrade and optimization

The U.S. Federal Government is currently engaged in multiple major modernization initiatives. Cloud computing is largely implemented across the federal government, but artificial intelligence (machine learning), cybersecurity, and quantum computing are all competing for resources and management attention. Artificial intelligence adoption is further along than quantum computing and can serve as a framework for predicting and preventing quantum adoption issues. This paper provides an analysis of the federal government’s implementation history for the four major technology areas. It outlines an approach for leveraging artificial intelligence adoption in the federal government to help predict quantum adoption challenges, including the creation of a time series analysis to leverage the Federal Government’s AI investment, progress, and challenges to help predict federal quantum adoption challenges.
Keywords: quantum; quantum computing; quantum computing adoption; artificial intelligence; machine learning; cybersecurity; enterprise modernization; federal adoption

Engineering has always been at the forefront of innovation, continuously evolving to meet societal and industrial challenges. In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across various engineering disciplines. AI-driven solutions, including machine learning, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation, are reshaping how engineers design, analyze, and optimize complex systems. This editorial explores the profound impact of AI in engineering, its applications, and the challenges it presents.

In this exciting era where the boundaries between disciplines blur, the fusion of advanced science and engineering represents not just a trend, but a pivotal shift in how we solve the world’s most pressing challenges. As guest editor, it is my privilege to introduce this special issue of our journal, which focuses on the innovative crossroads of science and engineering. The contributions in this issue range from breakthroughs in nanotechnology and biomedicine to advancements in sustainable energy solutions and artificial intelligence applications, each exemplifying the profound impact of interdisciplinary approaches. The articles selected for publication offer a glimpse into the future, where material science enables the creation of smarter, more adaptable technologies, and where computational models and engineering practices revolutionize everything from healthcare to urban planning. These contributions not only highlight the technical prowess and deep theoretical insights of their authors but also underscore the critical importance of integrating diverse scientific and engineering disciplines. By embracing complexity and crossing traditional boundaries, we can unlock novel solutions and opportunities that were previously unimaginable. As we delve into the pages of this issue, let us appreciate the synergy between advanced science and engineering as a driving force for innovation and societal progress. It is my hope that the research showcased here will inspire further exploration and collaboration across fields, fostering a future where science and engineering continue to evolve and respond dynamically to the needs of our changing world. Let this collection of articles serve as a testament to the power of interdisciplinary endeavors and a beacon for future research directions.

Malware classification is essential for cybersecurity, enabling early detection and mitigation of threats. This study investigates the efficacy of static analysis combined with various machine learning algorithms for identifying malware families. We extract three distinct feature sets from program binaries: byte histograms, opcode frequencies, and section distributions. A comprehensive comparative analysis is conducted using a suite of traditional machine learning classifiers, including Decision Tree, Support Vector Classifier, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naive Bayes, Stochastic Gradient Descent, Logistic Regression, and Random Forest, alongside a foundational Deep Neural Network. Evaluation on the completed byte histogram and opcode frequency feature sets reveals significant performance variations across models and feature representations. Opcode frequency features generally yield superior classification accuracy compared to byte histograms. Notably, Logistic Regression consistently demonstrates high accuracy and low false positive rates on both feature sets, achieving up to 92.9% accuracy with opcode features. While traditional models like Logistic Regression and SVC perform strongly, the initial evaluation of the basic DNN architecture shows promising improvement on opcode data but requires further exploration. These findings underscore the continued relevance of static feature engineering and comparative model analysis in malware detection, highlighting opcode patterns as particularly discriminative. Analysis incorporating section distribution features is ongoing to provide a more complete understanding.
Keywords: Malware Classification; Static Analysis; Machine Learning; Cybersecurity; Digital Forensics; Byte Histograms; Opcode Frequencies

Eye camps have long been essential in combating preventable blindness in Bangladesh, traditionally conducted in schools, community centers, or open spaces. While these initiatives provide crucial services, they often face patient registration, referral, and follow-up care challenges. However, in partnership with Sightsavers Bangladesh, a recent Gopalganj Eye Hospital and Training Institute initiative has demonstrated a more effective model by integrating community clinics into the process. This approach ensures continuity of care, enhances patient compliance, and fosters local government involvement, making eye care more sustainable and accessible.

It has been estimated that of all nanoparticles used in consumer products, silver nanoparticles currently have the highest degree of commercialization with a wide range of industrial and medical applications that may put human health at risk. The toxicity of nanoparticles is a subject of continued controversy and concerns about their adverse effects on human health and the environment are growing. This study investigated the effect of green synthesized silver nanoparticles from orange peels on growth performance and liver function parameters of male albino rats. Orange peel samples were collected from Federal University Wukari and air dried, ground and soaked in 80% ethanol solution for 24 hours. The orange peel extract was filtered. Silver nanoparticle was produced by boiling orange peel extract with 1mMsilver nitrate solution for 30 minutes. The green synthesized silver nanoparticles were orally administered at different doses (200, 400, 600ppm) to rats in group 2-4 for two weeks. The result of growth performance elicited highest feed efficiency in group 1(control) while the lowest value was found in group 3. Sera levels alanine transaminase (ALT)and aspartate transaminase (AST) were significantly higher in treatment groups (2-4), when compared with the control (group1). Sera level of ALP and GGT were slightly higher in the control group when compared with that of treatments. Higher sera levels of ALT and AST were observed which could be due to slight toxicity of AgNPs administered on the liver membranes of albino rat. Based on the findings of study, it was revealed that oral administration of silver nanoparticles between 200and 600ppm had varying effects on liver function parameters and growth performance of the experimental animals. However, higher sera levels of ALT and AST were observed which could be due to slight toxicity of AgNPs exerting its effect on liver membranes of the albino rats.
Keywords: Silver nanoparticles; Albino rats; Orange peel; Biochemical parameters; Growth performance

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite continuous advancements in treatment. Current treatment modalities include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and precision medicine, each offering significant improvements in patient survival and quality of life. However, the ultimate goal of achieving a complete cure remains elusive due to several challenges. These include drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, late-stage diagnosis, metastasis, severe side effects, and the high costs associated with innovative treatments. This article explores the existing cancer therapies, their effectiveness, and the key obstacles that hinder the development of a definitive cure. Ongoing research in nanotechnology, AI-driven drug discovery, and gene editing holds promise for more effective solutions. A multidisciplinary approach integrating early detection, personalized medicine, and accessible healthcare is essential for making meaningful progress in the fight against cancer.
Keywords: Cancer; therapy; challenges

Medicine has evolved significantly over centuries, adapting to the changing needs of human civilization. Broadly categorized into traditional and modern medicines, both systems play a crucial role in healthcare. While traditional medicine has been practiced for thousands of years, relying on natural resources and cultural knowledge, modern medicine is based on scientific research, clinical trials, and technological advancements. This essay explores the differences, advantages, and integration of traditional and modern medicines in contemporary healthcare.

As a result of high cost of fossil fuel and upsurge use of wood as an alternative source of fuel for domestic cooking and growing concern about the health risk associated with this practice, warranted the combustion and harvest of fly ash from selected fire woods such as African Oil Bean (Ugba), African Velvet Tamarind (Icheku), African Mango (Ugiri), African Pear (Ube), Mango (Mangoro) and African Bread Fruit (Ukwa) commonly used in Oru Community, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Imo State, South East Nigeria. Characterization of their fly ashes was carried out in order to determine the woods that generate lesser pollutants into the atmosphere. The woods fly ash were generated and analyzed for Heavy metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Morphology and Mineral contents. Heavy metals (Nickel, Zinc, Chromium, Manganese, Cadmium and Lead) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), 16-priority PAHs were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC- MS), Minerals were determined using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to determine the morphology of the fly ashes. The results obtained showed low concentrations of heavy metals in the fly ash of the woods, which were below W.H.O permissible limit (2.0mg/kg) except lead (Pb) and zinc (Zinc) that recorded high concentrations in all the fly ashes. PAHs concentrations across the fly ashes recorded an average value range from (0.02 mg/kg - 0.21 mg/kg) which was below USEPA permissible exposure limits (0.02 mg/kg - 0.5 mg/kg). Total PAHs concentrations recorded in woods fly ash were between (0.02 mg/kg and 4.63 mg/kg). Icheku wood fly ash recorded the highest total concentration of PAHs (4.63 mg/kg) while Ube wood fly ash, had the least (0.2 mg/kg). Highly carcinogenic PAHs such as Benzo (b) Fluoranthenene, Benzo (a) Pyrene, Benzo (k) Fluranthene, Chrysene, Dibenzo (G,h) anthracene and Indeno (1,2,3 c-d)were not detected in the woods fly ash. For minerals, mangoro fly ash recorded the most abundant essential mineral (24.97%) phosphorus content while Ugba fly ash recorded the lowest essential mineral (16.21%) sodium content. Aluminum and lithium, which are non- essential mineral elements, were found in the woods fly ash. SEM analysis in the woods fly ash recorded results of the range of particle sizes. Ugba (16 µm - 66 µm), Icheku (16 µm -200 µm) Ugiri (10 µm - 33 µm) Ube (36 µm -76 µm) Mangoro (20 µm - 60 µm) and Ukwa (33 µm - 86 µm). Icheku fly ash recorded the largest particle size range(16 µm - 200 µm) which is above the USEPA threshold value range (10 µm - 100 µm) for woods fly ash inhalation while Ugiri fly ash recorded the lowest particle size range (10 µm - 33 µm). From the SEM results, constant exposure to the woods fly ash could possibly lead to lungs inflammation and other respiratory diseases especially that of Ugiri wood. The best woods in relation to Heavy metals concentrations, PAHs, Particle sizes and Minerals are Ugba and Mangoro wood and are recommended for wood fuel. Other woods like Ube, Ukwa and Ugiri are also recommended for usage but under strict regulation, while Icheku wood should be rarely used since it contains very high concentrations in all the parameters analyzed in this study.
Keywords: Fly Ash; Biomass (wood); Oru; Ahiazu-Mbaise (Imo State)

The article discusses another variant of the connection between the soul and the body. But first, the author examines the solution of this issue in the ancient world, Aristotle, Descartes and S. Freud. In Descartes, the solution boils down to the assumption that the bodily process (the movement of animal spirits) creates the conditions for the psychic (passions), while in Freud a complex picture emerges: mental processes create the conditions for bodily transformations, and these, in turn, create conditions for new mental changes. The author bases his own approach on the assumption that dreams and semiotic schemes act as intermediaries between the soul and the body. To substantiate this assumption, he offers a reconstruction and explanation of two cases.
Keywords: soul; body; dreams; schemas; consciousness; psyche; intermediaries

Undoubtedly, a physician's professional practice is one of the most responsible and complex human activities. The scientific and technological advances in medicine, along with the acceleration and improvement of diagnostics, treatment, and disease monitoring, have reduced the psychological contact between healthcare professionals and patients. The loss of psychological contact between patient and physician is the cause of many ethical and legal conflicts because a patient is perceived not as an individual, but as a “syndrome” that needs urgent treatment. The specific nature of medical practice requires doctors to possess strong professional skills and high psychological and moral values, which are grounded in fundamental ethical principles such as respect for a person's dignity, the principle of "do no harm," the obligation to do good, the principle of vulnerability, the right to privacy and confidentiality, and the informed consent rule, among others. In the context of human rights, medicine is the pivotal branch of bioethics. Its main moral principle is respect for human rights and dignity. Violation of bioethical principles may lead to iatrogenic adverse consequences for the patient's health due to not informing about upcoming medical interventions, ambiguous interpretations of the patient's state, or demonstration of a negative or inattentive attitude towards the patient.

I will use this opportunity to inform about recent radiation biology developments that can significantly improve curative radiation oncology. Interestingly, while developing an improved cell survival formulation better applicable for normal tissue responses [1, 2] we found that most normal issues that have a wild type TP53 gene are also linked to Low Dose Hyper-Sensitivity (LDHS [3-5]). Because about ½ Gy or 18 DSBs are needed to start full DNA repair capability in the cell by starting non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination by phosphorylation of p53 at the serine 15 and 20 sites [3, 6, 7]. This LDHS in normal tissues is an effect of the cellular cancer avoidance system developed to induce Low Dose Apoptosis (LDA) to avoid misrepair before the DNA repair system is fully functional. Instead, after a single low dose irradiation the caspase 3, that performed the apoptosis, will remarkably remember the cell loss and induce a compensatory accelerated repopulation of the missed cell to recover homeostasis [8]! This is in contrast to most tumors that commonly are associated with a mutant p53 that instead often is associated with a Low Dose Radiation Resistant (LDRR [3]) phenotype and therefore generally are rather radiation resistant at low doses generally without LDA. This mechanism makes most tumors more difficult to treat at low doses making effective IMRT the method of choice for curative treatments. However, the LDHS of most normal tissues implies that as soon as we need to go above about 0.5 Gy to treat the underlying tumor it is better to continue up to about 2 Gy (as in classical parallel opposed treatments [6]) since now we have full repair induced and we should use the thereby induced radiation resistance to increase the dose to the tumor using IMRT. In fact the optimal radiation tolerance of most normal tissues is in the range 1.8-2.3 Gy/Fraction as was established through the last 80 years of radiation therapy [9]. However, using IMRT the tumor dose should be much higher now, than the classical parallel opposed beam ≈2 Gy/Fr, since we now generally k¬now we face a LDRR tumor that need higher doses per fraction for cure, as the increasingly popular ultra-hypo-fractionation schedules propose [3, 10-13]. The 2 Gy/Fr to normal tissues at risk fractionation schedule was proposed already 1999 [14] and it is really the best way to describe the tumor boost and the resultant dose per fraction increase in the tumor to reach about ≈3-4 Gy to avoid too massive cell kill in large tumors. A total tumor dose reduction of about ≈10 Gy is achievable by this type of tumor boost as described recently [3, 4, 7].

Objectives: To observe the benefit of rehabilitative aids and techniques in an urban poor setting, among a wide range of age, literacy and occupational groups.
Materials and methods: 61 subjects with ages ranged from 7 to 79 years, of varying literacy and occupations, attending a visual rehabilitation clinic, with varying degree of corrected but residual myopia were enrolled, evaluated and managed using rehabilitative tools and techniques. 96.6% of the patients were already on spectacles before the rehabilitation. The newer rehabilitative care included giving telescopes of various magnifications, as per the specific requirement of the patient. Each patient was counselled on proper use of the telescope, and given occupational training.
Results: The best corrected visual acuity before the rehabilitation ranged from 6/18 to PL/PR. After the rehabilitative management, there was a remarkable improvement in the visual acuity. With the shift of patient-group acuity towards overall better vision. The median vision of 6/60 shifted towards 6/12. The patients were overwhelmingly satisfied by the rehabilitation management. 95% gave the maximum score when asked about their satisfaction.
Discussion: Visual rehabilitation using telescopes with proper counselling and occupational training are feasible in low income settings and beneficial in restoring visual acuity, which is not optimum despite use of glasses and other existing corrections. These simple techniques bring about an immense degree of satisfaction and should be explored further in other conditions and settings.
Keywords: household modifications and artefacts; kitchen training; counselling

From the ancient period of drug development, where Phyto compounds were used as drugs, the advancement in this modern era of drug development mainly focuses on Artificial Intelligence and computational techniques in drug development and design. Drug synthesis has improved since the introduction of combinational chemistry, where thousands of chemical reactions can be performed simultaneously using small reaction vessels. The best one or the lead molecules from the synthesized compounds can be further tested in animals or humans for the desired biological action. Insilico screening methods can achieve this. By selecting the target receptor of the drug, several synthesized molecules from combinational chemistry can be screened, as well as unwanted compounds with no biological activity. This eliminates the need to use colossal animal testing models, which reduces cost and time. Molecular docking is an insilico method using different algorithms. The software gives results such as binding energy, type of interactions, and RMSD or RMSF, which will help predict effective, stable binding and rank different compounds based on the desired biological activity.

Staghorn calculi are a serious therapeutical challenge in clinical practice.
They can determine multiple complications represented by persistent pain, haematuria, chronic kidney disease, and various types of urinary tract infections including the urinary sepsis.
The consequences of the associated infectious complications can vary from urinary tract infections and recurrent urinary tract infections to pyelonephritis, renal abscesses and even pyonephrosis with perirenal abscesses or xantogranulomatous pyelonephritis.
The case that will be presented shows that the treatment of the staghorn calculi with the associated infectious complications, especially if they determine secondary urosepsis, is not only complex, multimodal and multidisciplinary, but unfortunately sometimes major surgical options like nephrectomy could be necessary as a life-saving option.
Keywords: staghorn calculus; infectious complications; renal abscess; xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis; nephrectomy

Introduction: Small-scale mining represents a significant portion of global mining activity and is carried out under diverse conditions. This study was conducted to describe the environmental conditions of mining areas in the Banalia region of Tshopo province.
Methods: a descriptive study was conducted among 422 people living in two mining households in the territory of Banalia, selected by the systematic sampling technique, during the period from March 18 to June 14, 2024. Descriptive statistics were carried out using proportion and mean ± SD.
Results: the average age of the respondents was 38.2 ± 6.9 years; secondary education level (65%), married marital status (46%) and seniority of 10 years or more (81%) were dominant; 89% of the dwellings were tents, the evacuation of fecal matter was done by ordinary pit toilets (55%) and defecation in the watercourse (40%); the most represented sources of drinking water were surface water (50%) and natural springs (39%), 80% of the population did not treat water. The vast majority of miners drank alcoholic beverages (84%) and 63% were smokers, unprotected sexual intercourse was dominant (91%).
Conclusion: Mining homes are characterized by an unsanitary and polluted physical environment and depraved behavior of the occupants, which constitute health risk factors. Specific preventive measures are necessary in mining homes.
Keywords: Assessment; environment; aquatic mining center; Banalia; DRC

“Cable sheathing materials need to be equipped with the basic requirements of durability, mechanical properties and fire proofing. The halogen fire retardant like inorganic metal hydroxides, phosphorous compounds etc… formulate are gaining prominence being in compliance with eco-friendly materials in order to avoid toxicity concerns. But the efficiency of these compounds are poor and addition of large quantities leads to incompatibility with organic polymer. Thus, intumescent fire retardant systems are being used which consists of acid source, carbonization agent and a blowing agent. Addition of nanosized particles along with these fire retardant in lesser quantities leads to better interfacial addition. The developed non-halogenated fire retardant nanocomposites will be used in cable sheathing applications with improved mechanical, tribological, thermal and fire retardancy behaviour".