Innovation Cluster (Canada)

Haptic sciences and technologies benefit greatly from comprehensive datasets that capture tactile stimuli under controlled, systematic conditions. However, existing haptic datasets collect data through uncontrolled exploration, which hinders the systematic analysis of how motion parameters influence tactile perception. This paper introduces the Cluster Haptic Texture Dataset, a multimodal dataset recorded using a 3-axis machine with a rubber tip as an artificial finger to precisely control sliding velocity and direction. The dataset encompasses 118 textured surfaces across nine material categories, with recordings at five velocity levels, eight directions, and two normal-force levels. Each surface was tested under 160 conditions, yielding 18,880 synchronized recordings of audio, acceleration, force, position, and visual data. Validation using convolutional neural networks demonstrates classification accuracies of 96.0% for texture recognition, 88.8% for velocity estimation, and 78.8% for direction estimation, confirming the dataset's utility for machine learning applications. This resource enables research in haptic rendering, texture recognition algorithms, and human tactile perception mechanisms, supporting the development of realistic haptic interfaces for virtual reality and robotic applications.

Geological storage of CO 2 through carbon mineralization is an efficient approach to reverse climate change, especially in stilbite-bearing formations such as basalts. However, integrated process routes that directly couple industrial CO 2 utilization with reactive mineral phases remain underexplored. Thus, this study presents a novel integrated pathway that couples CO 2 utilisation and permanent storage by linking a Solvay-type Na 2 CO 3 production loop directly to mineral carbonation in stilbite. Stilbite, a Ca-rich secondary zeolite, is evaluated as a reactive medium for CO 2 fixation via Na–Ca cation exchange using Na 2 CO 3 generated from the Solvay process. Stilbite samples collected from the Rajkot region (Gujarat, India) were reacted with Na 2 CO 3 solution in an in-house fabricated reactor at 60 °C and 1 bar for 30 days. The post-reaction products were characterised using XRD, XRF, FE-SEM and TGA. Post-reaction XRD confirms calcite precipitation, and XRF data reveal substantial Na enrichment (0.51–7.74 wt%) and Ca depletion (7.34–5.88 wt%), indicating a dominant Na–Ca exchange mechanism for CO 2 storage. The variation in the wt% in stilbite indicates Na-Ca exchange at the cation level, atomic mass differences, partial desilication, and secondary calcite precipitation within the solid matrix. FESEM imaging shows roughened stilbite surfaces and abundant secondary calcite crystals, confirming mineralogical immobilisation of CO 2 as calcite directly on and around the host zeolite. The Na-Ca exchange-driven calcite precipitation quantified by TGA shows a 5.76% mass loss between 800 °C and 950 °C, with a further calculation of CO 2 uptake of 57.6 g CO 2 kg -1 for stilbite. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating a coupled Solvay–stilbite route to store CO 2 and drive rapid carbon mineralization.

The synthesis of twisted 9,9'-bifluorenylidene dyes was accomplished through a palladium-catalyzed dual C-H activation and annulation transformation of the corresponding bis-biaryl alkyne precursor. This method enables efficient construction of the twisted 9,9'-bifluorenylidene framework with precise substitution patterns. The reaction conditions facilitated the formation of both cis- and trans-isomers, each exhibiting unique structural configurations that significantly influenced their physical properties. Notably, these isomers demonstrated distinct thermal behaviors, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry, with the cis-isomer showing a higher melting point indicative of more thermally stable molecular packing in the solid state compared to the trans-isomer. Furthermore, their solubilities varied markedly in the liquid crystal medium 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB), where the trans-isomer exhibited superior solubility and compatibility with the host matrix. At the same time, the cis-isomer tended to form microscopic aggregates due to limited solubility. Importantly, when incorporated into the liquid-crystalline environment, the trans-isomer exhibited reversible absorbance changes upon application and removal of an external alternating electric field. This behavior is attributed to the alignment of the trans-isomer's absorption transition dipole moment with the orientation of the liquid-crystalline host under the electric field, leading to reversible, repeatable modulations in optical absorption. These findings underscore the potential utility of the trans-isomer in electric-optic applications, where its responsive optical properties in liquid crystal media can be harnessed for devices such as smart windows and dichroic color filters.

Background: Healthcare organizations are experiencing continuous transformation driven by digitalization, workforce challenges, quality improvement initiatives, and increasing service complexity. While strategic change is often initiated by senior leadership, its successful implementation largely depends on middle managers who operate at the intersection of strategy and frontline practice. Despite their pivotal role, the literature on middle management's leadership and sustainability of change in healthcare remains fragmented and underexplored. Aim: This systematic review aimed to critically synthesize empirical evidence on the role of middle managers in leading and implementing change within healthcare organizations. Method: A systematic review design was employed. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across selected electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025. Studies focusing on middle managers in healthcare settings and their involvement in change leadership were included. Following duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, and full-text assessment, ten primary studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted systematically and synthesized using a narrative and thematic approach. Results: The findings revealed that middle managers played a central role in translating strategic directives into operational practice, facilitating communication, and supporting staff engagement during change processes. Key themes included change translation and implementation, leadership behaviors influencing workforce engagement, cultural and accountability leadership, digital transformation readiness, and constraints on leadership capacity. Transformational and supportive leadership styles were consistently associated with positive change outcomes, while resource limitations, workload pressures, and role ambiguity emerged as persistent barriers. Conclusion: The review demonstrated that middle managers are critical drivers of successful change in healthcare organizations. Strengthening leadership development, organizational support, and enabling conditions at the middle-management level is essential for achieving sustainable transformation and improving healthcare system performance.

This study was undertaken to identify gaps in cluster headache management, highlight patient-prioritized research needs, and assess patient interest in, and preferences for, clinical trial participation. Many people with cluster headache still lack effective treatment options to control or prevent attacks. There is a critical need for more studies, particularly clinical trials, in this field. To design and conduct successful trials, it is essential to identify priority research areas, allocate resources effectively, and ensure patient engagement and support. This study was an online survey conducted among Australian adults with self-reported cluster headache. Participants were recruited using a multi-channel approach, including direct outreach by clinicians, support from patient advocacy groups, and broad social media distribution. It collected data on demographics, treatment experiences, and perspectives on future research, including research priorities, and preferred outcomes and interventions. Additionally, participants' interest in joining clinical trials was assessed to help identify potential candidates for future studies. Of the 219 individuals who began the survey, 17 (8%) were excluded due to providing no responses beyond demographic data or reporting no cluster headache diagnosis by a healthcare professional. The final sample consisted of 202 participants, with an average age of 46 years, 77% aged 25-54 years, 55% male, 72% had been living with cluster headache for more than 10 years, and 29% reported attacks occurring almost every month throughout the year. A quarter of participants had not followed up with a healthcare provider for cluster headache management when they completed the survey. Among those who sought care (n = 145 [72%]), general practitioners were the most frequently consulted (86%), followed by neurologists (66%). Treatments were considered "not at all effective" or "somewhat ineffective" by 35% of all participants, while 27% reported only partial effectiveness. The main treatment challenges were ineffectiveness (74%), side effects (54%), cost (53%), and difficulties with access (39%). Among the 202 participants, 126 (62%) indicated interest in participating in future cluster headache trials, while 26 (13%) responded with "maybe." Psilocybin was the highest-ranked treatment in terms of participants who were "very interested," with 66% selecting this option. The combined proportion of participants who were "very interested" or "interested" was 84% for combination therapies, 82% for psilocybin, 71% for medical devices, and 66% for anti-CGRP treatments. Participants with reported cluster headache highlighted inadequate treatment options, emphasized the need for further research, and expressed interest in future clinical trials, particularly those involving psilocybin or combination therapies.

This study presents an approach for fabricating Nylon/MOF hybrid membranes via the postsynthetic modification of UiO-66-NH2 to introduce polymerizable moieties, followed by in situ polymerization with Nylon. Comprehensive characterization (FTIR, XPS, TGA, powder X-ray diffraction, SEM/EDS, TEM, and LC-MS) confirms the retention of MOF crystallinity, homogeneous dispersion within the Nylon (PA) matrix, and effective capture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The resulting composites exhibit markedly enhanced adsorption capacities from water: for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), PA membranes show Qmax = 94 mg g–1 while PA–MOF achieves 102 mg g–1; for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PA membranes show Qmax = 18 mg g–1 while PA–MOF reaches 31 mg g–1, corresponding to increases of 9 and 72%, respectively. Although the hybrid membranes display lower Qmax values than the pure MOF (160 to >2000 mg g–1), they exhibit significantly higher affinity constants. From the best-fit models, the affinity constants were: PFOS─PA (Double-Langmuir) KL,1 = 0.22, KL,2 = 11.02; PA–MOF (Double-Langmuir) KL,1 = 0.36, KL,2 = 25.96; and PFOA─PA (Sips) KS = 0.90 (n = 0.68), PA–MOF (Sips) KS = 0.36 (n = 1.32). These results indicate stronger interactions and superior uptake efficiency at low PFAS concentrations─an essential feature for real water treatment applications─and, in the case of PA–MOF, a cooperative intrapore mechanism for PFOA adsorption (n > 1). Adsorption modeling reveals dual-site interactions best described by the Double-Langmuir and Sips isotherms, consistent with heterogeneous binding arising from polar amide functionalities in Nylon and the intrinsically high surface area of the MOF. Overall, this work demonstrates a robust and scalable route to hybrid membranes for advanced water purification and environmental remediation.

Background and aimsPersonalized parenteral nutrition (PPN) is a customized strategy to address the individual metabolic and nutritional requirements of the critically ill patients, especially in cases where enteral nutrition (EN) is not possible. However, available evidence regarding its effectiveness and safety is still inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the impact of PPN on the clinical outcome of critically ill patients, including its effect on their length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), morbidity, and mortality.MethodologyA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Information pertinent to the question was retrieved from the selected studies by using a structured data extraction form. Included studies were those that had assessed the impact on clinical outcomes of PPN in critically ill patients. Data were synthesized using a random-effects meta-analysis model. An odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used as the pooled effect size.ResultsThe meta-analysis included seven studies. The clinical risk was significantly higher in PPN with an OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.10–1.39; p < 0.01). Although there were some studies that showed an improvement in nutritional markers and decreased inflammation, the overall impact on mortality and the length of stay in the ICU was inconsistent with considerable clinical and methodological heterogeneity (I² = 81%).ConclusionPersonalized parenteral nutrition has demonstrated improved benefits in tailored nutritional support for critically ill patients. The evidence, however, has shown mixed clinical outcomes, and its effect on mortality and morbidity has been inconclusive. Future research is needed to optimize the composition of PPN formulations and evaluate the long-term effects of this intervention.How to cite this articleGatar O, Arishi AA, Sultan MA, Gatar MM. Impact of Personalized Parenteral Nutrition on Inflammatory Markers and Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2025;29(12):1040–1049.

This study evaluated the sedative activity of abietic acid (AA) through a thiopental sodium (TS)‐induced sleep model in mice. AA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and diazepam (DZP) (2 mg/kg) were provided, followed by TS (20 mg/kg) after 30 min to induce sleep. Sleep latency and total sleeping time were documented over a 4 h period. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted to examine the interactions of AA with GABAA (Protein Data Bank: 6X3X) receptors, which hold two subunits of α1 and β2, alongside pharmacokinetic and toxicity assessments. The results indicated that AA significantly (p < 0.05) provided the fast onset of sleeping and extended sleeping time in a dose‐dependent manner. The combination of AA (20 mg/kg) with DZP further enhanced sedation, yielding a prolonged sleep duration and a reduced sleep latency, indicating a synergistic effect. In addition, in silico analysis expressed that AA exhibited a strong binding affinity for GABAA receptors (–7.9 kcal/mol), comparable to DZP (–8.4 kcal/mol). Furthermore, AA demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties and drug‐likeness. Overall, these findings suggest that AA possesses potent sedative effects, likely mediated through interactions with the GABAergic system, warranting further investigation for its therapeutic potential in sleep disorders.