Abstract: Precise classification of landslide types is essential for effective hazard mitigation; however, many existing landslide inventories lack type-specific information, limiting their applicability in risk management. This study presents a transferable machine learning framework to identify rainfall-induced cliff-type landslides—commonly corresponding to shallow landslides in Japan—from unclassified inventories across both seismic and non-seismic environments. Using Forest-based and Boosted Classification and Regression (FBCR) tools in ArcGIS Pro, the model was developed based on 25 landslide conditioning factors using balanced datasets of cliff-type and non-landslide samples derived from Tokushima and Wakayama Prefectures, Japan.The model achieved strong predictive performance in the training regions, with accuracy and sensitivity exceeding 0.84, an F1 score of approximately 0.84–0.85, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) ranging from 0.68 to 0.71. Transferability was evaluated by applying the trained model to the Kegalle District in Sri Lanka, where it achieved an accuracy of approximately 80% against available inventory data. Variable importance analysis revealed that rainfall consistently ranks among the most influential triggering factors for cliff-type (shallow) landslides, even in earthquake-prone regions, where seismic-related variables exhibited comparatively lower influence. Key controlling factors included rainfall, slope, elevation, proximity to infrastructure, and hydrological indices.These findings highlight that rainfall remains a dominant trigger for shallow landslides across different tectonic settings. The proposed framework provides a practical approach for complementing missing landslide type information in existing inventories, thereby improving hazard zonation and supporting risk-informed planning in diverse environmental conditions.

Abstract: Tropical wetlands are highly sensitive to climatic and anthropogenic disturbances, and the composition of their plant communities can reflect the capacity of these ecosystems to respond to environmental perturbations. This study evaluated the relationship between aquatic macrophyte richness, community structure, and habitat vulnerability to climate change in aquatic ecosystems located in the San Luis rural district, Barrancabermeja mu-nicipality (Santander, Colombia). Macrophyte communities were characterized at 47 monitoring sites distributed across six mesohabitats: floodplain depressions, swamp la-goons, wetlands, artificial ponds (jagüeyes), naturalized ponds, and stream riparian zones. A total of 63 species belonging to 30 families and 51 genera were recorded. The re-lationships among species richness, abundance, and mesohabitat types were assessed using multivariate analyses and statistical models, including principal component anal-ysis (PCA) and generalized linear models. Results revealed clear differences in vegetation community structure among mesohabitats and dominance patterns associated with an-thropogenic disturbance. Ecosystems with higher macrophyte diversity and greater rep-resentation of native species exhibited lower levels of climatic vulnerability, whereas hab-itats dominated by eutrophication-tolerant species and subjected to greater anthropogenic pressure showed higher susceptibility. These findings highlight the ecological importance of aquatic macrophytes as indicators of environmental change and as key functional components contributing to the resilience of tropical wetlands under climate change.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The global spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens complicates the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), causing significant hospi-tal-acquired morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the non-traditional antibacterial drug Fluorothiazinone (FT) to prevent VAP caused by Gram-negative bacteria in patients on mechanical ventilation. Methods: We conducted a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 2 pilot trial at 14 hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Treatment arm patients received FT at a dose: 2400 mg/day for the first 2 days and 1800 mg/day from the third day and further (but no more than 14 days) until the occurrence of VAP caused by gram-negative bacteria, confirmed clinically and microbiologically, or until the participant completed the study for other reasons. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the FT and placebo groups in the proportion of patients without clinically and microbiologically confirmed VAP caused by Gram-negative bacteria that developed 72-120 hours after tracheal intuba-tion and initiation of mechanical ventilation, as well as throughout the entire treatment period. Treatment with FT was associated with a 56% reduction in the risk of developing VAP, following adjustment for relevant clinical and demographic variables. Safety out-comes in the group receiving the study drug FT were not different from those in the place-bo group. Conclusions: The possibility of antibacterial prophylaxis with FT, to which resistance does not develop, which has a broad spectrum of action, a high degree of tissue distribu-tion, and a favorable safety profile, was demonstrated.

Abstract: N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels that are critical for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. These receptors are variously composed of GluN1, GluN2A–D, and GluN3A/B subunits. They are widely expressed in the central nervous system and are implicated in several neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders. The GluN2B subunit has garnered particular interest due to its high expression in the forebrain and spinal cord, role in pathophysiological processes, and potential as a therapeutic target. Consequently, there is continuing strong interest in developing radioligands for imaging brain NMDA receptors with positron emission tomography (PET). We report the synthesis of nineteen 3-alkylaryl derivatives of 7-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-1-ol and some of their enantiomers as prospective GluN2B PET radioligands. The absolute configuration of one core ligand was determined with vibrational circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopy, allowing the determinations of the absolute configurations of enantiomers of other ligands derived from this parent ligand. The GluN2B binding pocket showed generally broad tolerance for alkyl tether chain length and for alterations of both bulk and substitution in the terminal aryl group. No relationship between GluN2B affinity and computed compound lipophilicity was observed. Enantiomers of two prepared ligands, L3 (NR2B-SMe) and L6 (NR2B-Me), have desirably strong affinity for GluN2B, moderate lipophilicity, and amenability for labeling with carbon-11 (t_1/2 = 20.4 min). In subsequent and separate PET studies, [S-methyl-¹¹C](S)-L3 and [C-methyl-¹¹C](R)-L6 have shown strong specific binding to GluN2B in animal brain. Synthesis methods and other data from this study can guide and support the further development of candidate GluN2B PET radioligands for clinical applications.

Abstract: Cyberloafing is increasingly recognised as a common yet motivationally complex workplace behaviour. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework, this study examined whether toxic leadership is associated with cyberloafing through burnout syndromes and whether individual-level perceived psychosocial safety climate (PSC) buffers this health-impairment process. Using a cross-sectional online survey design, data were collected from 199 working adults across multiple industries, primarily from South Asia. A first stage moderated parallel mediation model was tested using Hayes’s PROCESS v5.0 Model 7 with 5000 bootstrap resamples. Toxic leadership was positively associated with all four burnout subdimensions, and significant indirect effects on cyberloafing emerged via exhaustion, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment, whereas mental distance did not mediate the relationship. Individual-level perceived PSC did not significantly buffer the links between toxic leadership and burnout. Overall, the findings suggest that, in toxic supervisory contexts, cyberloafing may be better understood as a maladaptive coping response to burnout-related impairment than as a simple retaliatory behaviour. These results extend leadership and burnout research by locating toxic leadership within the JD-R health-impairment pathway and by highlighting the limited protective role of perceived PSC when the source of harm is the immediate supervisor. Practical implications support an integrated intervention strategy.

Abstract: The current implementation of pneumonia diagnosis remains challenging to achieve better performance and improve results. The aim of this research is to propose an innovative framework for pediatric pneumonia diagnosis that unites three fine-tuned pre-trained CNN models through feature fusion at the EfficientNetB0, RestNet50, and MobileNetV2 to achieve better performance and results. The mixed-model architecture framework provides an ideal solution for time-sensitive clinical applications operating in resource-constrained environments. This research experiment used the Chest X-Ray Images (Pneumonia) dataset, which contains 5863 high-resolution anterior-posterior (AP) chest radiographs sampled from children aged 1 to 5 years old. This study presents four key novelties. Firstly, we systematically evaluated five CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks) combinations with seven different individual base models to identify the optimal ensemble configuration. Each base model was initialized with ImageNet pre-trained weights, with top classification layers replaced by global average pooling. Secondly, the proposed ensemble approach of MobileNetV2, ResNet50, and Efficient-NetB0 achieved superior performance with accuracy: 96.14%, precision: 94.10%, recall: 96.92%, and F1-score: 94.97%, outperforming all individual models and alternative ensemble combinations. Thirdly, this study compared the experiment results with several existing studies related to pneumonia classification. Fourthly, this study validated the proposed model on an external NIH pediatric dataset (94.73% ac-curacy) without fine-tuning, demonstrating true clinical transportability beyond benchmark dataset performance.

Abstract: One way to construct a generalist architecture for computational agents is to assemble different modules for different functions. Yet merely designing this using a top-down approach does not capture how the agent continually produces behavioral states and interacts with the world. A better approach is to evolve a variety of components with a relational history, and then combine the best candidate components into a modular system. We use agentic coding techniques to build a pipeline that implements an evolutionary process of diversification, recombination, and selection. As an initial demonstration of our pipeline, we utilize a toy synthetic dataset of simple shapes and a dataset based on Braitenberg’s Vehicles. In each case, the approach to phylogenetic mixing is to generate variety, select the most viable forms, and then composing an architecture. The resulting components are phylogenetically mixed in that the best components often do not share the same evolutionary history. This assembly process occurs through hypergraph construction: hypergraphs can be used to identify nested or categorical relationships. This generalist architecture could then perform a wide variety of tasks with the ability to connect between domains.

Abstract: The energy balance model (EBM) and its operational form, calories-in-calories-out (CICO), have dominated obesity research and clinical practice for decades. While these frameworks have yielded valuable public health insights, they rely on indirect conversions between mass and energy and rest on misconceptions about thermodynamic principles. This Perspective argues that a mass balance model (MBM) provides a conceptually simpler, mathematically consistent, and biologically more faithful paradigm. By tracking macronutrient mass directly – without intermediate energy-unit conversions or misapplications of thermodynamic laws – the MBM aligns analysis with physiological reality and better predicts body composition dynamics. Clarifying that the first law of thermodynamics concerns only energy (not mass), that calories cannot be eaten or oxidized, and that E=mc² has no relevance to human metabolism paves the way for more precise translational interventions in metabolic medicine.

Abstract: Soft robotic grippers excel in unstructured manipulation but suffer catastrophic failure rates (72%) when grasping deformable organics, fabrics, and mixed debris due to hyperchaotic pneumatic dynamics. This paper introduces the first Lyapunov stability controller for soft robotics, deploying real-time maximal Lyapunov exponent estimation (λ_MLE) from fibre-optic strain sensor arrays running at 100Hz on Intel Loihi 2 neuromorphic chips. The system reconstructs 12D phase space embeddings via Takens theorem, detecting chaos onset 187ms early during dual-material transitions (tomato → bolt), enabling pre-emptive damping that transforms strange attractors into stable limit cycles. Experimental validation across USDA organic datasets (tomatoes, grapes, leafy greens) and MRF waste streams demonstrates 94.2% grasp success 3.7× improvement over PID baselines with 2.3× faster cycles (2.1 grips/second) and 67% energy savings. Neuromorphic acceleration achieves 187μs latency for 12D divergence computation, 28× faster than GPU methods. Field deployments confirm robustness, agricultural harvesting sustains 3 clusters/minute, waste sorting handles mixed-material chaos, and medical tissue manipulation achieves sub-micron precision under arterial pulpability. Theoretical contributions include event-triggered Lyapunov redesign guaranteeing exponential stability (λ_1<-0.1) despite 24dB vibration and 47% moisture variance. Phase space visualization reveals Kaplan-Yorke dimension collapsing from 8.2D hyper chaos to 2.1D stable manifolds, providing online stability margins. This work establishes chaos quantification as a foundational primitive for next-generation soft robotics, transforming nonlinearity from failure mode to control parameter across agriculture, recycling, and minimally-invasive surgery.

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is conventionally managed as a disorder of hyperglycemia. However, large randomized controlled trials—including ACCORD, ADVANCE, and VADT—demonstrate that intensive glycemic control does not consistently reduce macrovascular complications or all-cause mortality. These findings suggest that hyperglycemia is not the sole driver of diabetic pathology and that additional mechanisms contribute to disease progression.From a systems medicine perspective, T2DM can be understood as a systems-level disorder involving oxidative–reductive imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, micronutrient depletion, hormonal dysregulation, and environmental influences. However, a unifying framework integrating these upstream determinants into a coherent systems model remains lacking.One potential mechanism is that hyperglycemia may impair cellular uptake of vitamin C via competitive interactions at glucose transporters, leading to a state of functional intracellular deficiency despite normal plasma levels. This phenomenon may contribute to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular complications.We propose a three-level model of T2DM management: (1) glucose-centric conventional medicine, (2) metabolic regulation via low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets, and (3) systems-oriented approaches that integrate nutrient status, redox balance, mitochondrial function, hormonal regulation, and environmental factors. While metabolic therapies represent a major advance, they may not fully restore intracellular and systemic biological function. Systems-level approaches may represent an additional layer for investigation in the management of T2DM.

Abstract: To investigate the effects of graphene soil conditioner on nitrogen forms, nitrogen cycling enzyme activities of rhizosphere soil, and maize (Zea mays L.) yield and quality, a pot experiment with five treatments was conducted. Soil samples were collected at the jointing (V6), tasseling (VT), milking (R3), and maturing (R6) stages to determine soil physical properties, nitrogen forms, and nitrogen cycling enzyme activities, while maize yield and kernel protein components were also measured. The results showed that graphene application significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased the content of soil aggregates >0.25 mm. Medium-rate treatments (G2, G3) notably improved the geometric mean diameter (GMD), mean weight diameter (MWD), and water-stable aggregate (WSA) content, while decreasing the unstable aggregate index (ELT) and fractal dimension (D), confirming improved soil structure. Graphene regulated soil nitrogen pools (total N, alkaline-hydrolyzable N, ammonium N, and nitrate N) in a dose-dependent and stage-specific manner through adsorption, slow release, and catalytic mechanisms. Low-to-moderate concentrations consistently enhanced nitrogen availability during most growth stages, whereas excessive application showed diminished or inhibitory effects at later stages. Moderate graphene application (G2, G3) also effectively enhanced the activities of key nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes—including nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), protease, urease, and hydroxylamine reductase (HAR)—during critical growth periods, thereby promoting soil nitrogen transformation and maize nitrogen utilization. The G3 treatment achieved the highest yield, increasing by 10.81% compared with the CF treatment. Kernel protein components (albumin, glutelin, and prolamin) exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease with rising graphene rates, indicating an optimal response at moderate application levels. Considering the comprehensive improvements in soil structure, nitrogen regulation, enzyme activities, and crop performance, a graphene application rate of 2 g·kg⁻¹ is recommended as the most effective for achieving sustainable soil quality improvement and high maize productivity.

Abstract: Background: Leptin and adiponectin play a key role in obesity-associated malignancy, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of these adipokines may offer valuable prognostic insights in CRC. This study aimed to analyze global publication trends and summarize current knowledge on the potential of these hormones as IHC biomarkers in CRC. Methods: A problem-oriented bibliometric analysis, including publications from 2000 to 2025 was performed across MEDLINE and Scopus databases. In parallel, a literature review was conducted to present the biological and clinical relevance of these adipokines in CRC. Results and Discussion: A total of 101 publications were identified. Scopus indexed substantially more studies than MEDLINE. The journals Cancer Research, Journal of BUON, Cells, BMC Cancer, and Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention were identified as the core journals publishing on this topic over the 25-year period. Leading countries were China and USA. A review of the literature showed that adiponectin is a promising prognostic marker, while leptin appears to be a better indicator of disease progression. Conclusions: IHC research on leptin and adiponectin in CRC is a promising but still underexplored area. Their integration with routine molecular assessment has the potential to improve patient stratification.

Abstract: Following a description of the woad plant and its distribution in the world, the locations in Europe where commercial woad growing took place during the middle ages until the end of the nineteenth century are described. The four unique steps which were used to convert the leaf of the plant into a dye bath for textile dyeing with indigo are described. The 21st century revival of interest in the process is summarised.

Abstract: COVID-19 may worsen in patients receiving immunosuppressants. Furthermore, drug-drug interactions and concomitant use of anti-inflammatory drugs 　complicate treatment. We report the clinical course of severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a 74-year-old Japanese male kidney transplant recipient. Case report: The patient had been taking tacrolimus (TAC) (2.5 mg/day), mycophenolate mofetil (1000 mg/day), and prednisone (5 mg/day) since his kidney transplant 7 years earlier. Twenty days before admission, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antigen and was administered molnupiravir for 5 days. At admission, real-time PCR testing of a nasopharyngeal specimen revealed high viral loads, with Ct values of 22.2 and 27.9 for the E and N2 genes, respectively. An oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min was required to maintain arterial oxygen saturation above 90%. TAC was continued, and antibiotics, steroids, anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibodies, intravenous immunoglobulin, and ensitrelvir (ESV) were administered. With invasive positive-pressure ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and prone positioning, the arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen tension (P/F) improved from 61.3 to 386 within 7 hours. The patient was extubated 30 hours after admission. The TAC dose was adjusted from 2.5 mg/day to 1 mg/day to achieve the target trough level. The patient was discharged on hospital day 8. PCR testing at discharge showed a decrease in viral load. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the treatment of COVID-19 in patients receiving immunosuppressants. Combination therapy of ESV and TCA was feasible in kidney transplant recipients with dose adjustment. The use of other anti-inflammatory drugs should also be considered

Abstract: Oxidative stress is one of the few defined causes of male infertility affecting at least one third of patients attending infertility clinics. Human spermatozoa are vulnerable to this form of attack because their stripped-down architecture means that they possess limited antioxidant protection and little capacity for biochemical repair. They also compound their vulnerability by being active generators of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and possessing multiple substrates for oxidative damage. The major sources of ROS in these cells are their mitochondria, an L-amino acid oxidase (IL4I1) and a calcium-dependent NADPH oxidase (NOX 5). Spermatozoa tolerate the risks associated with ROS generation because their biology is heavily dependent on redox regulation. ROS are important mediators of sperm capacitation, stimulating the generation of cAMP and prostaglandins, inhibiting protein phosphatases and encouraging removal of cholesterol from the plasma membrane. Furthermore, during fertilization, the ability of ROS to activate metalloproteinases facilitates penetration of the zona pellucida and sperm-oocyte fusion. While ROS are physiologically important for sperm function, the over-production of these metabolites can impair sperm function. Antioxidants have therefore assumed some importance as a possible therapy for the infertile male. However, before this potential can be realized, we need to optimize the composition and dose of reagents used in such formulations and develop improved methods of diagnosing oxidative stress within the patient population.

Abstract: Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition but is associated with dyslipidemia, increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Data on lipid profile alterations in rural South Africa primary healthcare settings remain limited despite high HIV burdens. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of lipid profile alterations among adult HIV patients receiving HAART at rural Eastern Cape primary healthcare facilities. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of clinical and laboratory records from 370 adults (>18 years) on HAART at five OR Tambo District health care facilities (2020 – 2024) Lipid parameters (Total cholesterol {TC} LDL Cholesterol< HDL cholesterol, Tri-glycerides {TG} from National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) data base were assessed NCRP ATP III thresholds. Prevalence was calculated with SPSS v29.0; overall dyslipidemia defines as any abnormality. Results: High prevalence of lipid alterations was observed: hypercholesterolemia 53.8 % (199/370). Overall dyslipidemia affected 80.8 % (299/370) of patients, confirming substantial metabolic burden in this rural cohort. Conclusion: Over 80% of rural HAART patients exhibited dyslipidemia predominantly elevated LDL-cholesterol, LDL+C (61.4%) and triglycerides (60.5%) Findings underscore urgent need for routine lipid screening, regimen optimization toward integrase strand transfer inhibitors. (INSTIs) and NCD-HIV integration in South Africa’s primary healthcare system to mitigate CVD risk.

Abstract: Generative AI tools have lowered barriers to producing branded social media images and captions, yet small-business owners (SBOs) still struggle to create on-brand posts without access to professional designers or marketing consultants. Although these tools enable fast image generation from text prompts, aligning outputs with a brand’s intended look and feel remains a demanding, iterative creative task. In this position paper, we explore how SBOs navigate iterative content creation and how AI-assisted systems can support SBOs’ content creation workflow. We conducted a preliminary study with 12 SBOs who independently manage their businesses and social media presence, using a questionnaire to collect their branding practices, content workflows, and use of generative AI alongside conventional design tools. We identified three recurring challenges: (1) translating brand “feel” into effective prompts, (2) difficulty revisiting and comparing prior image generations, and (3) difficulty making sense of changes between iterations to steer refinement. Based on these findings, we present a prototype that scaffolds brand articulation, supports feedback-informed exploration, and maintains a traceboard of branching image iterations. Our work illustrates how traces of the iterative process can serve as workflow support that helps SBOs keep track of explorations, make sense of changes, and refine content. CCS Concepts: Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI).

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) availability is a major determinant of crop productivity; however, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) remains relatively low in most agricultural systems. After uptake from the soil, inorganic N is assimilated into organic forms, primarily amino acids, which represent the principal long-distance transport form in most plants. The distribution of amino acids from source tissues to developing sink organs therefore plays a central role in plant growth, yield formation, and the nutritional quality of harvested organs. Amino acid transporters (AATs), also known as permeases, regulate the cellular and long-distance movement of amino acids and play a central role in nitrogen partitioning within the plant. These membrane proteins belong to the AAAP, APC, and UMAMIT transporter families and participate in multiple physiological processes, including amino acid uptake in roots, xylem and phloem transport, intracellular compartmentalization, and partitioning to reproductive tissues. Recent functional studies in both model plants and crop species demonstrate that manipulation of amino acid transporters can significantly influence biomass production, seed yield, grain protein content, and nitrogen use efficiency. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on the structure, transport mechanisms, and physiological roles of plant amino acid transporters, with particular emphasis on their contribution to nitrogen partitioning and crop productivity. We also discuss emerging opportunities for exploiting amino acid transporters in crop breeding and biotechnology to enhance nitrogen utilization and improve the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Abstract: Introduction. One of the most common integrated morphological indices used in breast cancer (BC) patients is the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). NPI can only be used after surgical treatment, as its calculation requires information on the status of axillary lymph nodes. Methods. We perform preoperative assessment of the axillary lymph node metastases risk in BC patients using the integrated morphological index – Total Malignancy Score (TMS). The TMS was calculated as the sum of the following parameters: tubule formation; nuclear pleomorphism; mitotic activity; invasive component; lymphoid infiltration; and lymphovascular invasion. The TMS was formed by summing the scores of the aforementioned micromorphological criteria and ranged from 5 to 20. Results. The study included 358 BC patients with a median age of 58.0 years (48.0–65.0). The TMS showed a statistically significant correlation with axillary lymph node metastases (p < 0.001). At the same time, a statistically significant direct moderate correlation was found between the TMS and the number of axillary lymph nodes metastases (r= 0.342; p< 0.001). The study demonstrated that the disease prognosis based on the TMS correlated statistically significantly with the prognosis based on the NPI (p< 0.001). Conclusion. The TMS is not inferior to the NPI in terms of prognostic value, but unlike the latter, it can be used at the preoperative stage. The TMS is a relatively simple, low-cost model for predicting recurrence risk and can be recommended for personalizing BC therapy in routine practice.

Abstract: Mining and industrial activities generate large volumes of waste, up to 99% of the extracted material, forming a major global residue source. In this context, the valorization of mining sludge for sustainable construction materials gains relevance. This study examines the fabrication of ceramic bricks incorporating mining sludge from the Panasqueira mine, evaluating sludge incorporation levels and sintering temperatures to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impacts. Bricks were produced by blending residual clays from Víznar (Granada, Spain) with Panasqueira sludge at substitution rates of 10, 25 and 50%, and fired at 800, 950 and 1100 °C. The samples were characterized by XRF, XRD, water absorption tests, porosimetry, ultrasound pulse velocity, compressive strength testing, ESEM, leaching analysis and colorimetry to assess their chemical, physical and mechanical behavior. Both clays and sludge are rich in SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, suitable for ceramic processing, while fluxing oxides promote vitrification and densification. Incorporating 25 and 50% sludge reduces porosity, increases ultrasonic velocity and improves mechanical strength, achieving optimal performance at 1100 °C. Moreover, firing immobilizes toxic metals and allows controlled color development, confirming the technical and environmental suitability of these bricks, whose microstructure and stability depend on sludge content and firing temperature, essential factors for sustainable construction and architectural rehabilitation.