bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information-Theoretical Analysis of Team Dynamics in Football Matches
Authors: Cheng Yi-Shan , Chang Acer Yu-Chan , Doya Kenji
Published: February 2025

Team dynamics significantly influence the outcomes of modern football matches. This study employs an information-theoretical approach, specifically causal emergence, combined with graph theory to explore how team-level dynamics arise from complex interactions among players, utilizing tracking data from 34 J-League matches. We focused on how collective behaviors arise from the interdependence of individual actions, examining team coordination and dynamics through player positions and movements to identify emergent properties. Specifically, we selected relative distance to the field’s center, center of mass (CoM) and clustering coefficients based on velocity similarity and inverse distance as macroscopic features to capture the key aspects of team structure, coordination, and spatial relationships. Relative distance and CoM represent the collective positioning of the team, while clustering coefficients provide insights into localized cooperation and movement similarity among the players. The results indicate that average causal emergence with relative distance and CoM as a macroscopic feature across entire games shows a strong correlation with differences in ball possession rate between home and away teams. In contrast, clustering coefficients based on inverse distance and velocity similarity showed moderate to weak correlations with ball possession rate, indicating that these metrics may capture localized interactions that are less directly tied to team-level emergent behavior compared to CoM. Additionally, relative distance and CoM as macroscopic features yield higher causal emergence in attacking phases than in defending phases before shooting, suggesting that the collective positioning of players may play a more significant role in facilitating successful attacks than in defensive stability. This study offers a novel perspective on team coordination in football, suggesting that effective team coordination may be characterized by emergent patterns arising from collective positioning. These findings have practical implications for understanding coordinated team behaviors and inform coaching and performance analysis focused on enhancing team dynamics.
Multi-Scale Channel Mixing Convolutional Network and Enhanced Residual Shrinkage Network for Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Li Xiaoxu , Chen Jiaming , Wang Jianqiang , Wang Jixuan , Wang Jiahao , Li Xiaotao , Kan Yingnan
Published: February 2025

Rolling bearing vibration signals in rotating machinery exhibit complex nonlinear and multi-scale features with redundant information interference. To address these challenges, this paper presents a multi-scale channel mixing convolutional network (MSCMN) and an enhanced deep residual shrinkage network (eDRSN) for improved feature learning and fault diagnosis accuracy in industrial settings. The MSCMN, applied in the initial and intermediate network layers, extracts multi-scale features from vibration signals, providing detailed information. By incorporating 1 × 1 convolutional blocks, the MSCMN mixes and reduces the feature dimensions, generating attention weights to suppress the interference from redundant information. Due to the high noise and nonlinear nature of industrial vibration signals, traditional linear layer representation is often inadequate. Thus, we propose an eDRSN with a Kolmogorov–Arnold Network–linear layer (KANLinear), which combines linear transformations with B-spline interpolation to capture both linear and nonlinear features, thereby enhancing threshold learning. Experiments on datasets from Case Western Reserve University and our laboratory validated the efficacy of the MSCMN-eDRSN model, which demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy and robustness under noisy, real-world conditions.
Integrated Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring System Based on LoRa Network
Authors: Georgantas Ioannis , Mitropoulos Spyridon , Katsoulis Stylianos , Chronis Ioannis , Christakis Ioannis
Published: February 2025

Water quality is crucial for public health, especially in areas with water scarcity, such as remote islands. Although reliable measuring devices are available, on-site manual testing, such as in water tanks, is still necessary. In order to determine the quality of drinking water, a set of measurements should be carried out automatically, at regular intervals and without delay, thus ensuring the monitoring of its suitability. In this research work, an integrated low-cost water quality monitoring system is presented. The proposed system consists of the monitoring stations and an information system. Each monitoring station includes a microcontroller and sensors, and is installed in the water reservoir, while the information system is used to capture, store, and visualize the measurement data. Data transmission is carried out over a long-range (LoRa) network, providing extensive coverage for receiving data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Additionally, linear and non-linear correction factors are proposed to improve the accuracy of measurements from low-cost sensors, resulting in more reliable data. In this way, the end users, such as local authorities or citizens, are given the possibility of immediate information on water quality via the web.
IRST-CGSeg: Infrared Small Target Detection Based on Clustering-Guided Graph Learning and Hierarchical Features
Authors: Jia Guimin , Chen Tao , Cheng Yu , Lu Pengyu
Published: February 2025

Infrared small target detection (IRSTD) aims to segment small targets from an infrared clutter background. However, the long imaging distance, complex background, and extremely limited number of target pixels pose great challenges for IRSTD. In this paper, we propose a new IRSTD method based on the deep graph neural network to fully extract and fuse the texture and structural information of images. Firstly, a clustering algorithm is designed to divide the image into several subgraphs as a prior knowledge to guide the initialization of the graph structure of the infrared image, and the image texture features are integrated to graph construction. Then, a graph feature extraction module is designed, which guides nodes to interact with features within their subgraph via the adjacency matrix. Finally, a hierarchical graph texture feature fusion module is designed to concatenate and stack the structure and texture information at different levels to realize IRSTD. Extensive experiments have been conducted, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has high interaction over union (IoU) and probability of detection (Pd) on public datasets and the self-constructed dataset, indicating that it has fine shape segmentation and accurate positioning for infrared small targets.
Performance Comparison of Wired and Wireless Electrodermal Activity Sensors During a Simulated Port Approach Maneuver
Authors: Žagar Dejan , Geršak Gregor
Published: February 2025

On large ships, Officers on Watch (OOW) work in a demanding environment where they are confronted with stress and dynamic conditions and frequently move from one wing of the vessel to another. Therefore, a physiological monitoring system to assess the activity of their autonomic nervous system, i.e., to detect their physiological responses, stress, and fatigue, should be lightweight and portable. This paper presents a comparison of wired and portable wearable psychophysiological systems. Although the wired system offers greater precision, its complexity, poor ergonomics, and the need for a controlled setup make it less suitable for the natural working conditions of OOWs. A wireless portable system, although weaker in precision, is more suitable due to its portability, ease of use, real-time data capabilities, ability to measure anxiety, and immediate insights into physiological states during real-world use in real time. Such an application provides a wearable physiological data collection solution that, in conjunction with a mobile app and cloud platform, enables seamless data collection and processing of participants’ autonomic nervous system arousal.
Experimental Study on Two-Dimensional Physical Simulation of CO2 Flooding in Daqingzijing Oilfield
Authors: Li Jinlong , He Sijie , Fang Feifei , Zhan Yu , Jin Weixiang , Gong Yue , Xia Chuxiang , Dong Mingda
Published: February 2025

As global energy demand continues to grow, the difficulty and cost of extracting oil and gas resources are gradually increasing, making enhanced oil recovery (EOR) one of the key issues in oil and gas field development. CO2 flooding, as an effective tertiary oil recovery technique, has significant advantages in improving recovery rates due to its ability to significantly reduce crude oil viscosity, increase formation energy, and expand the swept volume. However, the effectiveness of CO2 flooding is influenced by various factors, including flooding methods, well patterns, and formation parameters. In this study, a two-dimensional high-temperature and high-pressure simulation device was used to simulate the CO2 flooding process under various flooding methods, including water flooding followed by continuous gas flooding, water–gas alternating flooding, and foam flooding, for two types of injection–production well patterns based on the formation oil parameters of the Hei 125 block in the Daqingzijing Oilfield. The results indicate that during the transition from water flooding to continuous gas flooding, gas breakthrough channels form rapidly, leading to a rapid increase in the produced gas–oil ratio (GOR). Alternatively, alternating injection of gas and liquid can effectively control gas mobility, reduce gas phase permeability, delay gas breakthrough time, and improve oil displacement efficiency. Water–gas alternating flooding forms water–gas slugs, allowing CO2 to enter the tiny pores to contact crude oil, reducing resistance in the pores, and enhancing crude oil displacement efficiency. Although the foam system can expand the fluid sweep range, excessive gas injection can lead to premature gas breakthrough. Furthermore, the type of injection–production well pattern has a significant impact on the overall reservoir recovery for foam system and gas alternating flooding with a 1:1 ratio; adjusting the well pattern can increase the sweep efficiency and improve ultimate recovery. This study reveals the mechanisms by which different flooding methods and well patterns affect the effectiveness of CO2 flooding, providing important theoretical and practical guidance for optimizing flooding strategies and improving oil recovery in oil and gas fields. It is of great significance for promoting the application of CO2 flooding technology in oil and gas field development.
Evaluation of Rheological and Lubrication Properties of Selected Alcohol Fuels
Authors: Chybowski Leszek , Wójcik Wojciech , Szczepanek Marcin
Published: February 2025

This article presents the results of a study on the rheological and lubricating properties of selected alcohol fuels. Methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol are investigated, for which density, kinematic, and dynamic viscosity are determined at selected temperatures in the range of 15–60 °C. In addition, the water content of the studied fuels is determined. Based on the measurements, the coefficient of temperature change for density and the relative percentage decrease in kinematic viscosity with increasing temperature are calculated. Subsequently, regression models are built to describe the value of density and viscosity of the tested liquid alcohol fuels as a function of temperature. Next, the fuels under study are subjected to the evaluation of antiwear properties using a high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR). For each fuel, the corrected wear scar size WS1.4, which is a measure of lubricity, the average coefficient of friction, and the relative percentage decrease in oil FILM thickness during the conduct of the HFRR test under standardized conditions, are determined. The measurements are carried out at a standardized temperature of 25 °C in accordance with standardized methods for a time equal to 75 min. Due to the low lubricity of the tested fuels, additional tests are performed at a reduced time equal to 30 min. In this case, all fuels show a similar WS1.4 value, which ranges from 384 μm for methanol through 422 μm for 2-propanol to 426 μm for ethanol. The wear marks on the samples after the execution of the test are used to draw additional qualitative conclusions about the lubricating properties of the tested alcohols. The results obtained are summarized, and possibilities for their use in further research are provided.
Exploring Technological Originality and Self-Citation in Wind Energy Innovation: Implications for Technological Impact
Authors: Shi Junguo , Aminu Mohammed Rashad , Dou Shanshan , Alemzero David , Yan Wenyi
Published: February 2025

Technological innovation is paramount for accelerating climate change mitigation efforts within sectors characterized by low technological diffusion. This study examines the role of self-citation and technological novelty on the technological impact of wind energy technologies (2010–2023). Using USPTO patent data and a negative binomial regression analysis, the results reveal an inverse relationship between self-citation and technological impact and a positive relationship between technological originality and technological impact. Specifically, a 1% increase in the self-citation rate is associated with an 11.2% decrease in technological impact, while a 1% increase in technological originality leads to a 5.2% increase in technological impact. These findings highlight the need for policies that incentivize technological diversity and foster knowledge exchange and collaboration among firms to enhance innovation diffusion. By providing insights into firms’ innovation strategies, this study offers practical guidance for policymakers aiming to accelerate renewable energy adoption and achieve long-term sustainability goals.
Investigation of Plasticity in Morphology, Organ Traits and Nutritional Composition in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) Under Different Culturing Modes
Authors: Qi Ming , Wang Yang , Hu Liangliang , Chen Guangmei , Zheng Tianlun , Ding Xueyan , Bei Yijiang , Tang Jianjun , Ma Wenjun , Chen Xin
Published: February 2025

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an aquatic reptile prized for its nutritional and health benefits. Given its adaptability to various culturing modes including the greenhouse, pond and rice culturing modes, we conducted a comparative analysis of the morphology, organ trait and nutritional composition of turtles cultured in three culturing modes. This study investigated the plasticity of morphology and physiology, as well as the variations in nutritional composition across varying culturing modes. The results demonstrated that after approximately 120 days of cultivation, significant changes were observed in the morphology, physiology and nutritional composition of turtles from each culturing mode. In terms of morphology, rice turtles exhibited an arched shell shape, broad plastron, elongated limbs, narrow interocular distance and slender head and neck. Pond turtles displayed similar morphological characteristics to rice turtles, with the additional features of a flattened body shape and narrower plastron. Greenhouse turtles presented a flattened shell shape, narrow plastron, shortened limbs, wider interocular distance and stocky head and neck. Regarding the organ characteristics, the specific weights of liver, viscera, internal fat lumps and condition factors were significantly higher in greenhouse turtles compared to rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). Conversely, the specific weights of the back carapace, calipash and edible part were significantly lower than those in rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). Nutritional analysis revealed that crude protein, total amino acid, essential amino acid, flavor amino acid, pharmacodynamic amino acid, collagen and EPA+DHA contents were significantly higher in rice turtles and pond turtles than greenhouse turtles (p < 0.05). However, crude fat and unsaturated fatty acid contents were significantly higher in greenhouse turtles than in rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). In summary, Chinese soft-shelled turtles exhibited significant morphological and organ plasticity in response to different culturing modes. While the rice and pond culturing modes could enhance the nutritional quality of turtles to some extent, the impact of commercial feed on fatty acid profiles must be carefully considered.
Isolation and Characterization of a Thermotolerant Acetic Acid Bacteria Strain for Improved Zhenjiang Aromatic Vinegar Production
Authors: Wang Yuqin , Hua Shengkai , Wang Leyi , Bao Chunjia , Chen Xinnuo , Wei Xiang , Yu Yongjian
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to isolate a thermotolerant acetic acid bacteria (AAB) strain from Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (ZAV) and evaluate its potential as a starter culture for high-temperature solid-state vinegar fermentation. Acetobacter pasteurianus TCBRC 103 was successfully isolated and demonstrated superior thermotolerance compared to the industrial strain A. pasteurianus Huniang 1.01. A. pasteurianus TCBRC 103 exhibited robust growth and acetic acid production at 42 °C. When employed in the solid-state fermentation of ZAV, inoculation with A. pasteurianus TCBRC 103 resulted in higher fermentation temperatures, leading to enhanced accumulation of organic acids and volatile compounds. Notably, the concentrations of flavor compounds such as isoamyl acetate, acetic acid 2-phenylethyl ester, and acetoin were significantly higher in vinegar fermented by A. pasteurianus TCBRC 103 compared to those fermented by A. pasteurianus Huniang 1.01. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified 14 discriminative flavor compounds that could serve as potential markers for distinguishing between vinegars fermented by A. pasteurianus TCBRC 103 and A. pasteurianus Huniang 1.01. These findings highlight the promising application of A. pasteurianus TCBRC 103 as a starter culture for the production of high-quality ZAV under high-temperature conditions, with implications for reducing cooling costs and improving vinegar productivity in industry.
Environmental Stress and the Deterministic Assembly of Bacterial Communities in Daqu: The Role of Amino Acid Content Fluctuations
Authors: Chen Zhihao , Tang Shaopei , Zhu Xia , Zhu Guojun , Luo Xiaoye , Wang Xiaodan
Published: February 2025

Bacterial communities are highly susceptible to fluctuations in amino acid content. To investigate the response of microbial communities in daqu to environmental perturbations, we employed high-throughput sequencing and statistical analyses. Samples were collected from two workshops (A and B) at distinct stages of daqu fermentation and storage. Our analysis, using the β-nearest taxon index (βNTI), revealed that fungal community assembly is shaped by both stochastic and deterministic processes. In contrast, bacterial communities exhibited a shift towards deterministic assembly under environmental stress, with fluctuations in amino acid content being a primary driver. Notably, communities with active amino acid metabolism displayed a greater involvement of stochastic processes and harbored a higher number of bacterial keystone taxa, which contributed to the stability of microbial networks. This study provides novel insights into the complex interplay between microbial communities and their environment in the context of daqu.
The Effect of Roasting on Oil Content, Fatty Acids, Bioactive Compounds and Mineral Contents of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Seeds
Authors: Al Juhaimi Fahad , Atasoy Zehra Beyza , Uslu Nurhan , Özcan Mehmet Musa , Mohamed Ahmed Isam A. , Walayat Noman
Published: February 2025

In this study, the effect of oven and microwave roasting at different times on oil content, total phenol, flavonoid, fatty acids, phenolic components and mineral contents of purslane seeds was investigated. The total phenolic quantities of the purslane seeds roasted in the oven and microwave were characterized to be between 252.0 ± 1.80 (180 °C/5 min in the oven) and 256.6 ± 3.51 (10 min in the oven), and between 216.3 ± 0.28 (720 W/15 min in the microwave) and 203.7 ± 1.93 GAE/100 g (30 min in the microwave), respectively. The highest total flavonoid (613.8 ± 4.36 mg QE/100 g) was detected in the application of roasting in the oven for 10 min. Roasting in the oven for 5 min caused a decrease in the total flavonoid content (584.3 ± 4.95 mg QE/100 g), while roasting for 10 min caused an increase in the flavonoid content (613.8 ± 4.36 mg QE/100 g). The oil yields of purslane seed samples roasted in the oven for 5 min and 10 min were defined as 40.40 ± 0.99% and 45.00 ± 0.71%, respectively. Statistical differences were observed between the oil, total phenol and flavonoid contents of the samples depending on the roasting times in the oven and microwave (p ≤ 0.01). The protein contents of the purslane seeds were established to be between 27.89 ± 0.279% (control) and 37.24 ± 0.407% (10 min in the oven). The calcium (Ca) contents of the purslane seeds changed between 8314.99 ± 327.53 ppm (5 min in the oven) and 4340.62 ± 498.45 ppm (15 min in the microwave), while the phosphorus contents varied between 4905.13 ± 43.02 ppm (15 min in the microwave) and 4051.23 ± 6.39 ppm (unroasted). In addition, the potassium content was found to be between 4565.89 ± 153.47 (5 min in the oven) and 3904.02 ± 7.17 ppm (unroasted). It was also observed that the purslane seeds roasted in the oven for 10 min maintained a linolenic fatty acid content of up to 65.57%. Considering the bioactive properties and phytochemical components of purslane seeds roasted in both roasting systems, they are important in terms of the nutritional enrichment of foods as a food supplement.
Examining the Influence of Different Inventories on Shallow Landslide Susceptibility Modeling: An Assessment Using Machine Learning and Statistical Approaches
Authors: Dias Helen Cristina , Hölbling Daniel , Grohmann Carlos Henrique
Published: February 2025

Shallow landslides are one of the most common natural hazards in Brazil and worldwide. Susceptibility maps are powerful tools to analyze the spatial probability of shallow landslide occurrences. The outputs of susceptibility maps strongly depend on the type of landslide inventory used. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of different inventories on shallow landslide susceptibility modeling using the different methods LR, SVM, and XGBoost. Three different shallow landslide inventories were compiled following a single extreme rainfall event in the Ribeira Valley, São Paulo, Brazil. The results indicate that inventories generated through different landslide detection methods and imagery produce diverse susceptibility maps, as evidenced by the calculated Cohen’s Kappa coefficient values (0.33–0.79). The agreement among the models varied depending on the specific model: LR exhibited the highest agreement (0.79), whereas SVM (0.36) and XGBoost (0.33) showed lower numbers. Conversely, the accuracy numbers suggest that XGBoost achieved the highest success rate in terms of AUC (85–78%), followed by SVM (82–76%), and LR (80–71%). Inventories obtained through different detection methods, using distinct datasets, can directly influence the susceptibility assessment, leading to varying classifications of the same area. These findings demonstrate the importance of well-established landslide mapping criteria.
The Sounds of Silence: Perspectives on Documenting Acoustic Landscapes at the Intersection of Remoteness, Conservation and Tourism
Authors: Carruthers-Jones Jonathan , Holmes George , Norum Roger
Published: February 2025

The humanities are often criticised for lacking a way through from the complexity they reveal to the challenges they might hope to address. In the face of the accelerating biodiversity crisis, we present two projects that aim to respond to the limitations and lack of interdisciplinary conversations in conservation and in humanities research. At field sites in Finnish Lapland and the French Pyrenees, we document how conservation humanities research can be used to develop a more pragmatic and integrated transdisciplinary approach to conservation in remote and fragile landscapes. Firstly, we show how sound and soundscapes are important subjects of study in both conservation biology and the humanities. We also highlight their importance to conservation planners and policy makers seeking to preserve biodiversity and landscape characteristics, as well as our social values thereof, which, together, are critical to their survival. Secondly, we demonstrate how integrated conservation humanities methods can lead to rich local-level insights on key conservation themes that can then be scaled via existing large-scale acoustic monitoring and spatial datasets to support decision making across much larger areas. Finally, we highlight how the participatory mapping approach at the core of our integrated methodology shows potential to generate change in the real world and meet the classic operationalisation challenge that academia faces.
The Effect of Exercise-Based Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Hematological Malignancies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Borsati Anita , Murri Arianna , Natalucci Valentina , Cerulli Claudia , Barbieri Elena , Lucertini Francesco , Lanza Massimo , Parisi Attilio , Galvani Christel , Buono Pasqualina , Mancini Annamaria , Fischetti Francesco , Poli Luca , Di Blasio Andrea , Iannaccone Alice , Avancini Alice , Mauri Caterina , Ferri Marini Carlo , Grazioli Elisa
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Hematological cancers encompass a collection of heterogeneous conditions. The need for repeated treatments and prolonged hospitalization leads to a decrease in health-related quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effect of exercise interventions on functioning scales, global health status, and symptoms in patients with hematological cancers. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically screened, and randomized controlled trials were included. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life assessed through the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 14 trials involving 837 patients with mixed cancer types were included. Most studies evaluated exercise interventions during hospitalization, with aerobic and resistance training at moderate intensity being the most common modalities and adherence rates ranging from 28% to 100%. Exercise programs significantly improved physical (SMD 0.23; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.40; p = 0.008), emotional (SMD 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.36; p = 0.020) and cognitive functioning (SMD 0.20; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.37; p = 0.026), and global health status (SMD 0.24; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.46; p = 0.027). Significant reductions were observed in fatigue (SMD −0.33; 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.14; p = 0.001), pain (SMD −0.34; 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.15; p = 0.000), and insomnia (SMD −0.22; 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.03; p = 0.024). Heterogeneity was minimal across most domains, suggesting consistent findings. Conclusions: Exercise interventions are effective in enhancing functioning scales and global health status and reducing symptom burden in patients receiving intensive treatments. Future research is required to explore the long-term effects of exercise and develop tailored programs for specific hematologic malignancies and treatment settings.
New Drug Expenditure by Therapeutic Area in South Korea: International Comparison and Policy Implications
Authors: Yu Seung-Rae , Choi Sooyoung
Published: February 2025

Background: Pharmaceutical expenditures serve as key indicators of healthcare system efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. South Korea has implemented policies such as the economic evaluation exemption (EEE) and risk-sharing agreements (RSAs) to balance cost control and access to innovative therapies. However, discrepancies persist in the distribution of expenditures across therapeutic areas, raising concerns about alignment with public health needs. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed pharmaceutical expenditures in South Korea from 2007 to 2022, focusing on new chemical entities (NCEs). Data sources included the IQVIA MIDAS Global Database, the WHO Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, and South Korea’s national health insurance records. Expenditure patterns were benchmarked against OECD and A8 countries using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and other healthcare metrics to assess the relationship between spending and disease burden. Results: By 2022, South Korea had introduced 276 NCEs, demonstrating progress, but still lagging the OECD average. NCE expenditure increased from 10.0% to 16.0% of total pharmaceutical spending between 2017 and 2022, whereas A8 countries’ share rose from 26.2% to 48.1%. While oncology expenditures were proportionate to disease burden, spending on chronic diseases such as musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions remained relatively low compared to their DALY contributions. Conclusions: Although South Korea has strengthened its investment in pharmaceutical innovation, disparities in expenditure distribution persist. Refining policies to enhance resource allocation for chronic diseases and expanding the RSA framework beyond oncology could improve equity and sustainability. Adopting international best practices—such as indication-based pricing and funding mechanisms for high-cost therapies—may further support optimal pharmaceutical expenditure management.
Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Growth-Related SNPs and Candidate Genes in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Adapted to Hypertonic Environments
Authors: Ding Miaomiao , Tao Yifan , Hua Jixiang , Dong Yalun , Lu Siqi , Qiang Jun , He Jixiang
Published: February 2025

Sustainable development of the largemouth bass industry is hindered by limited freshwater resources. Consequently, the expansion of farming space by brackish and saline water aquaculture has become imperative. Largemouth bass is an economically important freshwater fish species. However, there is presently a lack of germplasm resources with the capacity to adapt to hypertonic environments and maintain rapid growth. A genome-wide association study is a technique used for the detection of genetic variants associated with specific phenotypic traits. In this study, we firstly applied this technique to explore the potential single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) locus and candidate genes associated with rapid growth and adaptation to the hypertonic environment of largemouth bass. A total of 10 potential growth-related SNPs were obtained on chromosome 16, and SNP16:4120214 was a significant SNP peak. Based on these SNPs, 23 candidate genes were annotated in the genome, including Nkcc1, Mapkap1, Hmgcs1, Slc27a6, and Shroom3. Shroom3 expression was significantly higher in individuals enriched for the most growth-advantageous genotypes. Shroom3 upregulation is beneficial for fish growth in hyperosmotic environments. This study provides insight into the genetic basis of rapid growth in hypertonic environments and foundational information for the future breeding of salt-tolerant largemouth bass.
Nephroprotective and Antioxidant Effects of Jatropha dioica Extract Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Wistar Rats
Authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez Diana Raquel , Mendoza-Hernández Oscar Humberto , Cordero-Pérez Paula , Rivas-Galindo Verónica Mayela , Moreno-Peña Diana Patricia , Tijerina-Márquez Ramiro , Garza-Villarreal Alondra Michelle , Alarcón-Galván Gabriela , Muñoz-Espinosa Linda Elsa , Zapata-Chavira Homero Arturo , Hernández-Guedea Marco Antonio , Solis-Cruz Guadalupe Yazmín , Torres-González Liliana
Published: February 2025

Plant extracts with antioxidant activities have shown nephroprotection against IR injury. Jatropha dioica (Jd) possesses antioxidant activity. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a hydroalcoholic Jd extract against IR injury in Wistar rats. Rats were divided into groups (n = 6): sham (SH); no toxicity (JdTox; 300 mg/kg/day of extract for 7 days); IR (on day 7 [I: 45 min/R: 24 h]); and Jd+IR (same treatment as JdTox; same surgical procedure as IR). AST and LDH were significantly lower in the JdTox. IR exhibited significantly higher CrS, BUN, and MDA compared with SH; Jd+IR showed reductions in these markers. GSH and SOD levels were significantly lower in IR compared with SH; an increase in these markers was observed in the Jd+IR. Histologically, IR showed significant increases in medullary tubular necrosis, medullary protein casts, and medullary vascular congestion compared with SH and JdTox. In Jd+IR, a significant decrease was observed only in medullary tubular necrosis. Therefore, the evaluated hydroalcoholic Jd extract dose showed no nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Jd extract pretreatment attenuated IR-induced renal injury, as evidenced by the improved serum markers of renal damage and oxidative stress.
No Benefit from Hydroxyurea Pre-Treatment in Frontline Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Therapy and Evidence of Quantitative Changes in the BCR::ABL1 Transcript Level
Authors: Stagno Fabio , Stella Stefania , Leotta Salvatore , Caserta Santino , Vitale Silvia Rita , Markovic Uros , Tomarchio Cristina , Mirabile Giuseppe , Russo Sabina , Massimino Michele , Vigneri Paolo , Manzella Livia , Di Raimondo Francesco , Allegra Alessandro
Published: February 2025

Hydroxyurea (HU) cytoreduction is usually administered to patients with chronic myeloid leukemia before starting any tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy. However, up to date, there is no evidence of any benefit of hydroxyurea pre-treatment. Conversely, evidence has been provided on both the prognostic significance of the quantitative assessment of BCR::ABL1 expression at diagnosis and the individual decline of the BCR::ABL1 slope. In this view, we assumed that any kind of treatment administered before a confirmed diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia might change the amount of BCR::ABL1 transcript levels. To this purpose, we evaluated leukocyte counts and BCR::ABL1 quantitative expression either at diagnosis (baseline and no therapy) and on day 7 and day 14 of treatment in a cohort of 45 unselected patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase. After informed consent, 21 of them received HU cytoreduction for 14 days before starting TKI treatment (HU group), whereas the other 24 patients received frontline TKI therapy without HU pre-treatment (TKI group). Our findings showed that: (i) there is no benefit from HU cytoreduction in patients affected with chronic myeloid leukemia before starting treatment with TKIs; (ii) any kind of therapy administered before a confirmed diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia might change the amount of BCR::ABL1 expression levels.
The Extract of Piper nigrum Improves the Cognitive Impairment and Mood in Sleep-Deprived Mice Through the JAK1/STAT3 Signalling Pathway
Authors: Guan Dongyan , Hou Zhiying , Fan Bei , Bai Yajuan , Wu Honghong , Yu Jiawei , Xie Hui , Duan Zhouwei , Wang Fengzhong , Wang Qiong
Published: February 2025

Piper nigrum L. (PN), which contains various bioactive compounds, is a plant with homologous medicine and food. Sleep deprivation (SD) profoundly impacts cognitive function and emotional health. However, the mechanisms by which PN improves cognitive function and depressive mood induced by SD remain unclear. In our study, network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict the potential mechanisms by which PN regulates SD. In this study, 220 compounds were identified in PN, and 10 core targets were screened through network pharmacology. Animal experiments showed that PN ameliorated depressive mood and cognitive deficits in sleep-deprived mice, upregulated the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT), and downregulated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The ELISA assay showed that PN significantly decreased the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels. Histopathological staining of brain tissue demonstrated that PN mitigates SD-induced hippocampal damage, enables the hippocampus to produce more neurotransmitters, including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and dopamine (DA), and reduces glutamate (Glu) levels. RT-qPCR and WB analyses further indicated that PN could exert anti-SD effects by inhibiting the over-activation of the JAK1/STAT3 signalling pathway. In the PC12 cell model, PN could reduce inflammation and prevent apoptosis, exerting neuroprotective effects. In summary, PN has positive effects on alleviating depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction induced by SD.
Hemorrhagic Shock and Mitochondria: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Andrianova Nadezda V. , Buyan Marina I. , Brezgunova Anna A. , Cherkesova Kseniia S. , Zorov Dmitry B. , Plotnikov Egor Y.
Published: February 2025

Severe injuries and some pathologies associated with massive bleeding, such as maternal hemorrhage, gastrointestinal and perioperative bleeding, and rupture of an aneurysm, often lead to major blood loss and the development of hemorrhagic shock. A sharp decrease in circulating blood volume triggers a vicious cycle of vasoconstriction and coagulopathy leading to ischemia of all internal organs and, in severe decompensated states, ischemia of the brain and heart. The basis of tissue damage and dysfunction in hemorrhagic shock is an interruption in the supply of oxygen and substrates for energy production to the cells, making the mitochondria a source and target of oxidative stress and proapoptotic signaling. Based on these mechanisms, different strategies are proposed to treat the multiple organ failure that occurs in shock. The main direction of such treatment is to provide the cells with a sufficient amount of substrates that utilize oxidative phosphorylation at different stages and increase the efficiency of energy production by the mitochondria. These strategies include restoring the efficiency of mitochondrial complexes, for example, by restoring the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) pool. Another direction is approaches to minimize oxidative stress as well as apoptosis, which are primarily dependent on the mitochondria. There are also a number of other methods to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction and improve the quality of the mitochondrial population. In this review, we consider such strategies for the treatment of hemorrhagic shock and show the promise of therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring the bioenergetic functions of the cell and protecting mitochondria.
Profiling of miRNAs Contained in Circulating Extracellular Vesicles and Associated with Sepsis Development in Burn Patients: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Schiavello Martina , Bosco Ornella , Vizio Barbara , Sciarrillo Alberto , Pensa Anna , Pivetta Emanuele , Morello Fulvio , Risso Daniela , Montrucchio Giuseppe , Mariano Filippo , Lupia Enrico
Published: February 2025

Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in patients with burn injuries and it may represent, in these patients, a real diagnostic challenge. Here we studied the profile of miRNAs contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs) (EV-miRNAs) isolated from plasma from burn patients complicated by sepsis at admission and 7 days later. We enrolled 28 burn patients, 18 with (Burn Septic Patients—BSPs) and 10 without (Burn non-Septic Patients—BnSPs) sepsis. Ten healthy subjects (HSs) were used as additional controls. After EV isolation by charge precipitation and miRNA extraction, we proceeded with a two-phase approach. Through a first screening phase, we identified 178 miRNAs differentially expressed in BSPs compared to HSs. Among these, by a validation phase based on qRT-PCR, we found that miR-483-5p, miR-193a-5p, and miR-188-3p were increased in the BSPs compared to the BnSPs and HSs. Upon ROC analysis, all three miRNAs showed a good accuracy in differentiating BSPs from BnSPs, especially miR-483-5p (AUC = 0.955, p-value = 0.001). Moreover, we found 173 miRNAs differentially expressed in BSPs after 7 days from enrollment compared to T0, among whose miR-1-3p, miR-34a-3p, and miR-193a-5p decreased in BSPs after 7 days, in parallel with a decrease in SOFA scores. Finally, the other two miRNAs, miR-34a-3p and miR-193a-5p, positively correlated with the SOFA score. In conclusion, we identified several miRNAs—namely miR-483-5p, miR-193a-5p, and miR-188-3p—with potential clinical utility as diagnostic biomarkers in a heterogeneous population of burn patients at high risk of developing sepsis. Moreover, we found some miRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-34a-3p, and miR-193a-5p) that vary according to the course of sepsis and others (miR-34a-3p and miR-193a-5p) that are associated with its clinical severity.
Noninvasive Detection of Oxidative Stress in a Mouse Model of 4R Tauopathy via Positron Emission Tomography with [18F]ROStrace
Authors: Gallagher Evan , Li Shihong , Lee Hsiaoju , Xu Hong , Lee Virginia M.-Y. , Mach Robert H. , McManus Meagan J.
Published: February 2025

Oxidative stress, defined as the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases, including the 4-repeat (4R) tauopathies. Collectively, the 4R tauopathies are characterized by the progressive aggregation of tau protein isoforms with four microtubule-binding domains in and around brain cells. The cyclical relationship between oxidative stress and 4R tau aggregation suggests that a means of imaging ROS noninvasively could be a valuable tool for the study and treatment of 4R tauopathy in both humans and animal models. To demonstrate the potential of the ROS-sensitive positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer [18F]ROStrace as a means of filling this methodological gap, we performed [18F]ROStrace PET imaging on PS19 mice, which exhibit 4R tau aggregation similar to that seen in human 4R tauopathy. Significant increases in [18F]ROStrace signal became detectable in the hippocampus of 6–11-month-old (mo) PS19 animals and spread to the brainstem, midbrain, and thalamus of 11+ mo animals. Additionally, older PS19 mice displayed higher whole-brain average [18F]ROStrace signal compared to age-matched controls (p = 0.042), and tau pathology consistently colocalized with multiple fluorescent indicators of oxidative stress in PS19 brain samples. These results provide novel evidence that 4R tau aggregation is associated with increased oxidative stress in PS19 mouse brain and advance [18F]ROStrace as a noninvasive technology for the detection of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases involving tau pathology.
Genetic Polymorphisms (ApaI, FokI, BsmI, and TaqI) of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Influence the Natural History and Phenotype of Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Kafentzi Theodora , Tsounis Efthymios P. , Tourkochristou Evanthia , Avramopoulou Evdoxia , Aggeletopoulou Ioanna , Geramoutsos Georgios , Sotiropoulos Christos , Pastras Ploutarchos , Thomopoulos Konstantinos , Theocharis Georgios , Triantos Christos
Published: February 2025

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) modulate vitamin D/VDR signaling, a key pathway in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. This study investigates how ApaI, BsmI, TaqI, and FokI SNPs affect IBD phenotype and progression. A total of 76 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 68 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were genotyped. On initial bivariate analysis, the AA genotype of ApaI was accompanied by higher rates of penetrating (B3) CD (36.7% vs. 8.7%; p = 0.012). The FokI SNP was associated with disease location, with the ff genotype predisposing to CD and affecting the upper GI (36.4% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.044) or the colon (90.9% vs. 50.8%; p = 0.038). Moreover, patients harboring the ApaI A allele (AA/Aa) experienced higher rates of steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent CD. In multivariate analyses, the aa genotype showed a protective effect against hospitalization (aOR = 0.17; p = 0.013) in CD, whereas the TT genotype emerged as an independent risk factor (aOR = 4.79; p = 0.044). Moreover, the aa genotype was independently associated with a decreased risk of IBD-related surgery (aOR = 0.055; p = 0.014). VDR SNPs, particularly ApaI, influence disease phenotype, progression, and treatment response in CD. The aa genotype of ApaI appears to confer protection against adverse disease outcomes.
Application of Biomimetic Chromatography and QSRR Approach for Characterizing Organophosphate Pesticides
Authors: Greber Katarzyna Ewa , Topka Kłończyński Karol , Nicman Julia , Judzińska Beata , Jarzyńska Kamila , Singh Yash Raj , Sawicki Wiesław , Puzyn Tomasz , Jagiello Karolina , Ciura Krzesimir
Published: February 2025

Biomimetic chromatography is a powerful tool used in the pharmaceutical industry to characterize the physicochemical properties of molecules during early drug discovery. Some studies have indicated that biomimetic chromatography may also be useful for the evaluation of toxicologically relevant molecules. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of the biomimetic chromatography approach for determining the lipophilicity, affinity to phospholipids, and bind to plasma proteins of selected organophosphate pesticides. Quantitative structure–retention relationship (QSRR) models were proposed to understand the structural features that influence the experimentally determined properties. ACD/labs, Chemicalize, and alvaDesc software were used to calculate theoretical descriptors. Multilinear regression was used as the regression type, and feature selection was supported by a genetic algorithm. The obtained QSRR models were validated internally and externally, and they demonstrated satisfactory performance with key statistical parameters ranged from 0.844 to 0.914 for R2 and 0.696–0.898 for R2ext, respectively, indicating good predictive ability.
Lubrication for Osteoarthritis: From Single-Function to Multifunctional Lubricants
Authors: Chen Wen , Ye Qianwen , Zhang Mingshuo , Xie Renjian , Xu Chunming
Published: February 2025

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that progressively destroys articular cartilage, leading to increased joint friction and severe pain. Therefore, OA can be treated by restoring the lubricating properties of cartilage. In this study, recent advances in lubricants for the treatment of OA are reviewed for both single-function and multifunctional lubricants. Single-function lubricants mainly include glycosaminoglycans, lubricin, and phospholipids, whereas multifunctional lubricants are composed of lubricating and anti-inflammatory bifunctional hydrogels, stem cell-loaded lubricating hydrogels, and drug-loaded lubricating nanoparticles. This review emphasizes the importance of restoring joint lubrication capacity for the treatment of OA and explores the structural features, lubrication properties, and role of these lubricants in modulating intracellular inflammatory responses and metabolism. Current challenges and future research directions in this field are also discussed, with the aim of providing a scientific basis and new ideas for the clinical treatment of OA.